Something to think about when choosing assisted living
A few years ago, my husband and I had to find an assisted living facility for his mother. We wanted something near us, that offered good care, was physically attractive, and had activities that she might enjoy. We thought we had found the perfect place, but when we brought my mother-in-law over, she was very unhappy there. It seems that the facility met all of our requirements, but the one thing that we overlooked was her need to be with people with whom she was comfortable, namely people of
the same religion.
The same thing happened recently to friends of ours who were looking for an assisted living facility in Florida for their brother. They had to visit many before being able to eliminate those in which they felt he would not be comfortable. It seems that as people age, they often feel more comfortable when with others who share their race, religion, or ethnic background. This may not be true as baby-boomers age, but it is true for many who are now in their 70’s and 80’s.
I realize that it may not be politically correct, but the reality of the situation is that this is important when looking for a home health aide or an assisted living facility. It would be very helpful, and reduce the anxiety and stress of what is already a stressful situation, if that kind of information was available. Perhaps pictures could be included for home health aides, or, for assisted living facilities, a general breakdown by race, religion, or ethnicity, such as the US census does, could be part of the description.