Portland Metro Guide to Assisted Living

Portland and its surrounding area have its share of well-run and attractive Assisted Living communities. Some are situated within a campus type setting; others are well planted in nice neighborhoods and/or close to well-traveled thoroughfares or shopping centers and restaurants.

While touring with a family last week interested in relocating their parents it struck me how overwhelming it can be for a family to not just see one, but three Assisted Living facilities in the same day. Expecting to tour more than 3 – one after the other is – unrealistic. This family was prepared and had great questions of the administrators and their community resource directors.  After even the second one they were exhausted from so much information being thrown at them.

This is not just a walk through buildings– it’s a life-style change for your parents, even if they have asked you to start the process for them.

You and your family or a very close family friend know and understand the life-style your parent(s) is/are accustomed to. Do they enjoy the city with its hustle and buzzle? Or a neighborhood with tree lined sidewalks? Or an area with a wide open view and that country-like feeling?

Are they social butterflies belonging to social clubs close to their own home and are looking forward to having friends and acquaintances drop by to visit them in their new digs? Do they belong to a specific church in their own neighborhood?

Sit down with Mom and Dad and ask them what they are envisioning and what their wants and needs are and are they financially capable to pay the month to month costs and for how long?  Unless you understand exactly what they have in mind, you’ll be returning glassy-eyed, very tired and totally stressed out.  Even though I have been through every Portland community numerous times,  know the questions to ask and what to look for, I was totally exhausted.

Any move is stressful no matter what age we are. For seniors it can be traumatic, if not approached step-by-step to get used to the idea – even if they are all for it.

In my next blog I’ll address – “this is not a planned move – what now?”