Parkinson's Disease Health Center

Parkinson's Disease and Assisted Living

Assisted living is a type of housing for people who need various levels of medical and personal care. Living spaces can be individual rooms, apartments, or shared quarters. The facilities generally provide a home-like setting and are physically designed to promote the resident's independence.

What Services Do Assisted-Living Communities Provide?

The services offered by assisted-living communities vary from facility to facility. Services often include:

• One to three meals a day
• Monitoring of medication
• Personal care, including dressing and bathing
• Housekeeping and laundry
• 24-hour emergency care
• Some medical services
• Social and recreational activities

How Can I Know What Services I Need?

If you have Parkinson's disease, talk with your family and caregivers about what services you need. Take time to consider what services are important to you before you visit assisted-living communities. This step will help ease your transition. Think about these questions:

• Why do I want/need to change my living arrangements?
• What daily activities do I need help with (bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, remembering medications)?
• How often do I need help?

What Should I Look for in an Assisted-Living Community?

The following questions will help you and your family, when evaluating assisted-living facilities. Use this checklist to determine if assisted living is right for you.

General Questions

• Is the residence licensed?
• What type of insurance does the facility carry on personal property?
• How do they respond to medical emergencies?
• What is the visitation policy?

Contracts, Costs, and Finance Questions

• Is a contract agreement available to include accommodations, personal care, health care, and support services? When may a contract be terminated and what is the refund policy? Are additional services available if the residents' needs change?
• How do you pay for additional services that are needed on a temporary basis (such as nursing care)?
• Are there different costs for various levels or categories of services?
• Are there any government, private, or corporate programs available to help cover the cost of services to the resident?
• What are the billing, payment, and credit policies?
• May a resident handle his or her own finances with staff assistance (if able), or should a family member or outside party be designated to do so?

Questions About Staffing

• Is staff appropriately trained?
• Did you receive a warm greeting from staff? Is staff personable and outgoing?
• Is staff appropriately dressed?
• Do staff members greet residents by their first names and interact warmly with them?
• Is staff available to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs?
• Is staff available to assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses?

Residents and Atmosphere

• Do residents socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable?
• Do residents, other visitors, and volunteers speak favorably about the facility?
• Do the residents seem to be appropriate housemates for you or your loved one?