If you have a loved one who is growing older and is less capable of taking care of their home or themselves, it might be necessary for you to start thinking about long-term care options. However, with so many health care options and facilities, it can be difficult to know what you should be looking for.

At Coryell Memorial Healthcare System in Gatesville, TX, our goal is always to ensure our senior living services can meet the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of every individual who comes to us. With three connected facilities, the senior living residences at CMHS can meet every seniors’ needs.

Coryell Memorial Healthcare provides a continuum of care under one roof with The Oaks Independent Living Apartments, The Welcome Assisted Living, The Meadows Rehab and Long-term Care. As your love one’s needs change they can make the easy transition from one program to another, giving you peace of mind.

Here are five things to look for when deciding on long-term care options for your loved one:

1. Determine Your Needs

Before you can select a long-term-care facility for a loved one, you must know what sort of care he or she needs. There are several levels of care that senior-care properties provide:

•             Independent Living is any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors, generally those aged 55 and over. They may or may not provide services such as meals and housekeeping.

•             Assisted Living is for those who need help in one or two activities of daily living, such as dressing or bathing.

•             Skilled Nursing is for those who need short- term rehabilitation, need the attention of a nurse every day, or need more extensive assistance with activities of daily living such  as eating, toileting and walking.

•             Memory Care is for those with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.

2. Resident Activities

During your tour of any long-term care facility, watch what the residents are up to. Do they interact with one another or participate in activities? Ask to see the list of daily programs provided for them, and find out how they change from day to day. Do residents have opportunities to leave the facility and engage in the larger community?

3. Employee Behavior

The best way to have an idea of how your loved one will be treated at a specific facility is to watch the employees who are working. How do they speak to residents? Are they spending the majority of their time interacting with residents or at their stations?

4. Personal Touches

A long-term care facility should feel like a home for residents, not a hospital. Check rooms for personal effects, and find out if they are allowed to bring pets or plants.

5. Health Management

While it is important for these types of facilities to ensure residents are taken care of and are receiving their medications each day, they also need to provide residents with regular health updates from physicians. This should either mean having the doctors come to the facility or providing transportation, so residents can make their doctors’ appointments.

Since all the senior living residences at CMHS are on the same campus as Coryell Memorial Hospital and Coryell Medical Clinic, residents enjoy easy access to local physicians without ever having to leave the building. Please come tour our residences and see for yourself everything Coryell Memorial Healthcare System’s senior living has to offer.

When you want to ensure your loved one lives their life in comfort and that their health is a priority, contact us to learn more about Coryell Memorial’s long-term care options. Speak with one of the team members today by calling 254-404-2500. You can also visit the website at www.cmhos.org  to learn more about the senior living and rehabilitation services available.