What to Look for in a Maryland Senior Care Facility

When it comes to Maryland senior care facilities, there are plenty to choose from! A brief search on the Internet will spit out at least a dozen results that all look like viable options. But that’s until you take a closer look. Not sure which criteria to use when evaluating these different options? Let us lend you a hand with that!

Staff-to-Resident Ratio

One of the most important factors to consider when looking at different Maryland senior care facilities is the caregiver-to-resident ratio. As you can imagine, if there are 20 residents in a facility and only one caregiver to attend to everyone, your loved one may not get the level of care you are hoping for.

Keep in mind that both the maximum number of residents and the minimum number of caregivers are regulated through facility’s licensing by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). Some facilities may choose to stick to the minimum requirements to save money on hiring more staff. At Kenwood Care, on the other hand, we have your loved one’s best interest in mind, which is why we have 6 caregivers in each of our 4 facilities licensed for 16 beds. This makes for almost a 3 to 1 caregiver-to-resident ratio!

Overnight Supervision

Getting a restful and uninterrupted night sleep can be difficult in old age, especially if your loved one suffers from certain medical conditions. They may need to wake up to use the restroom, to take pills, or sometimes may need emergency assistance during the night hours. As you are touring various Maryland senior care facilities, ask whether they have an awake overnight caregiver. The awake part is very important, because otherwise the person may not be able to react fast or may entirely miss calls for help.

Level of Care

Not all senior care facilities are created equal, you probably already know that from looking at a few websites or visiting them in person. They may offer different degrees of care, especially when it comes to medical care. For example, assisted living facilities and residential care homes generally don’t provide medical care, as in having a doctor on staff to adjust the course of treatment. This is what nursing homes are for.

If your loved one doesn’t require active medical care, then you can look at other types of assistance the facility provides. Do they have a kitchen where they cook healthy meals? Can they arrange doctor visits and deliver medication? How about hair cuts, laundry, bathing assistance or specialized Alzheimer’s care? Evaluate your loved one’s needs and see how well each facility can meet them.

Amenities & Outdoor Space

Of course, the facility itself matters a lot. That’s where your loved one will be spending a lot of time, so you want to make sure it’s a nice place. Consider asking yourself and/or your tour guide the following questions:

• Is the location peaceful, quiet and easy to visit?
• Is there outdoor space to spend time when the weather is nice?
• Is the interior modern and equipped with safety measures?
• What is there to do in terms of entertainment?
• Do rooms come fully furnished?
• Is there enough personal space for privacy?
• What does a typical daily schedule look like for a resident?

Hospice Care

When it comes to senior living facilities, most people aren’t looking to move around. They need a good facility where their loved one can spend his or her last years in peace and happiness. This means you should probably think about hospice care. Will the facility provide it or will you have to go through the trouble of moving your loved one back home? At Kenwood Care, one of the reasons Maryland seniors and their families choose us, is the fact that we provide high-quality care until the very end. We partner with hospice care providers to ensure your loved one is comfortable and free of pain.

Have other questions about our facilities or senior care in general? Feel free to give us a call or contact online!