What if the Facility Can’t Help My Loved One?

We’ve already discussed a similar question, in the article “When the Facility Says No.” However, let’s look deeper by quickly looking into what you can do if the facility is unable to help your loved one.

Many times, we think of assisted living facilities, and nursing homes too, as the inevitable—the be-all, end-all of senior care, if you will. Sometimes we may feel like if we can just get them into a facility, then all of their troubles (and ours) will simply disappear. However, that isn’t the case at all, as sometimes the facility may not actually be able to help your loved one in the way that he or she needs.

It could be that your loved one requires much more attention and care than an assisted living facility can give them. If that’s the case, the facility probably will not be able to help. However, that doesn’t mean that you should lose hope. In that situation, the facility will most likely recommend other facilities that may be nearby, or they may suggest moving your loved one to a nursing home. If you don’t quite understand why the facility doesn’t think they are a good fit, you may  be able to speak with the head of the facility and get some more appropriate options for your loved one that way as well.

It is important that you always remember that, in the event a facility does turn your loved one away or is unable to help him or her, it isn’t the end or the last option. As we said in the article linked above, many reputable facilities often have waiting lists, so if it is a problem of space, it is a possibility this could be remedied in the future.

Also, it’s important to remember that you want the best possible care for your loved one, and any facility that you are considering should want the same. If a particular facility is unable to help give your loved one the care they need, then you should continue your search until you find one that meets your specific needs. That’s why it’s best to write out a list of possible choices before you begin visiting facilities in order to have a back-up plan of sorts, if necessary. By doing so, you will ensure that one choice won’t be your only choice, and if that doesn’t work out, you will have others that you can choose from.