Only savvy customers know how best to shop for dementia and other memory-care services. The state of the economy demands frugality such that one can get good deals on the go. However, to be economical when searching for such facilities is not always the best decision. As senior care franchise opportunities Watson Lake continues to expand, it is even more important to authenticate options before paying for your elderly. More than the cost or budget, there are other factors that someone has to consider as well. An all-encompassing precaution is to beware of marketing buzzwords namely:
- 24/7 Nursing Services
There is a vast difference between seven days a week and 24 hours a day. The ambiguity of 24/7 makes it more difficult to understand some marketing terms. More so, it can also mean that the nurse leaves the premises at 5 pm and is still on-call through weekdays. Additionally, there is an excellent distinction between two sets of nurses.
- Qualified nurse – responds to issues in moments while in the building
- Nurse – makes suggestions to staff without seeing the patient or stepping foot in the premises
- No down payment and the first month is free
Without any doubt, this is a catchy business term. Besides, it is a promising and fabulous offer that beats the competition. However, remember that the pocket will suffer in other areas of services with such a ridiculous proposition. Be sure if there are additional fees for a change in the level of care. Also, determine the difference in pricing structure as there is an increase in the need for care. Most importantly, there are extra charges for bathing, dressing, medication, and other essentials.
- Dedicated staff
The staff ratio will tell the number of dedicated staff. A good industry standard for an assisted living requires that eight residents with memory impairment get one qualified staff member. Dementia training is a vital training module for all care staff. Find out if the choice of the facility gives such training.
Alzheimer’s care has no specific national standards yet, but individual attention requires established staff training. For instance, there is a vast difference between an employee with intensive training and a physical certificate and another who has watched a two-hour video during dementia training. Furthermore, an excellent facility must render training throughout a year. Continuous and round-the-clock training is important for staff because there are regular updates about memory care.
- Nutritious meals and snacks
Check out the quality of the food by tasting it. Food tours during the day and in the night are great ways to know how nutritious the facility’s meals are. Check out other menus as well. Do they offer a balanced diet and farm-fresh products? How often do they make snacks available to their residents?
To maintain a healthy weight, an Alzheimer’s senior patient requires about 1,500 calories a day. For this reason, patients should always have access to healthy foods and fresh snacks. Likewise, check out the facility’s snack selection to fish out the nutritional content of the snacks.
In summary, it is a big step to select a long-term arrangement for dementia patients. It involves a wealth of research and fundamental questions. As the consumer who will pay for services, ask specific questions about senior care franchise opportunities Watson Lake and match them to the patient’s needs and requirements.
