Ideas that sounded fine six months ago may no longer be right for you. Your plan may need to be amended as your needs change or as different programs become available. It may happen that your support network of family, friends and local meal or transportation programs are not enough to ensure your care and safety. You may be able to choose from a menu of services, such as some or all meals in the dining room, recreation programs, and help with housekeeping tasks, and personal and medical needs. Many residents will have one or more health problems that require medical and rehabilitation services on site.
Some organizations offer both types of care in continuing care communities .
For example, there may be an assisted living facility located next to a nursing home so that moving from one level of care to the other is a relatively simple matter. Some also can provide living arrangements for couples, which can be particularly useful if one spouse has become disabled and the other is unable to care for him or her alone. Ask a lot of questions. Ask everyone for information and recommendations about various facilities in the area you want to live in. You can start with your physician, friends and relatives who might have done this research in the past, or representatives at your religious organization.