3 Reasons to Take Advantage of an Assisted Living Short-Term Stay Program

Are you looking for an assisted living community for your loved one to move into? In your search, you might be overwhelmed by the number of choices. How can you be sure you and your loved one are selecting the best community for their future?

Fortunately, many assisted living communities offer a great service to help you and your loved one make an informed decision: a short-term stay. With this offering, seniors can enjoy an extended stay at a community they’re interested in, getting a firsthand look at what life in that community would be like. These stays usually last around a month or two, which is plenty of time to determine if a community is the best place for your loved one to receive the care and socialization they deserve.

Let’s look at a few reasons an assisted living short-term stay is a great idea for seniors.

You Get Acquainted with the Community

Moving into an assisted living community is a huge decision for your loved one. So, you want to be sure the community they’re choosing is the best fit for them on a personal level. An assisted living short-term stay is the perfect opportunity for seniors to get better acquainted with their surroundings.

First, visitors can get to know the staff better. A brief handshake on a one-hour tour might leave a good first impression, but it doesn’t tell you much about the kind of care your loved one will receive at a community. A short-term stay, however, gives them the chance to interact with the staff and get a better feel for the kind of care they will receive from those who work at the community. You want to be sure that the staff caring for your loved one is not only qualified, but kind and attentive, too. An assisted living short-term stay is the first step in building trusting relationships with the staff members.

Your loved one will have the opportunity to get better acquainted with other residents in the community, as well. Through a short-term stay, your loved one has a chance to interact with other residents and engage in social activities. They can see if they fit in and feel comfortable with the community. And, after a stay, the transition to permanently moving in will be smooth and comfortable, since they’ll already know some familiar faces.

Finally, you and your loved one can become acquainted with the actual community itself. Does your loved one like the rooms? Do they enjoy the food? Are the activities engaging? Day-to-day life in an assisted living community can be hard to get a feel for until your loved one experiences it for themselves. A short-term stay allows them to do just that, and they will have a better idea of how they’ll like long-term living in the community.

You Don’t Have to Make a Financial Commitment

Not only is moving into an assisted living community a big personal decision, it’s a major financial decision. One of the greatest benefits of an assisted living short-term stay is the chance to ensure your family is making a wise financial decision. You don’t want to commit to a community, only to find out later that it isn’t the right fit. That decision could cost your family thousands of dollars.

The short-term stay, however, doesn’t require a long-term commitment. Your loved one can simply go home if a community isn’t the right fit. They haven’t paid any extra costs or signed any contracts pertaining to a long-term stay. The short stay affords your loved one a couple of months to save on living expenses before they officially move in.

You can also save on initial moving and storage costs. Many top assisted living communities offer short-term stays in furnished apartments, so your loved one only needs to bring the essentials. You can put off moving furniture and other big items until later. And, they’ll get a sense of what furniture will fit in the rooms at the communities they’re considering, which will be beneficial in the future when they do move.

It’s a Perfect Winter Retreat

Winter can be a tough season for seniors. Cold weather can mean limited mobility and threats to their health. That’s why winter is the perfect time for an assisted living short-term stay. Why not make the winter a little bit easier for the senior in your life?

There are a number of reasons why this is the best time for a stay. First, your loved one will have access to nurses and 24/7 care, so they don’t have to get out of the house to visit the doctor. There’s no need to brave the ice and cold when a highly qualified nurse is just down the hall! And, if they do need to visit the doctor, there is someone always on call, ready to take them wherever they need to go.

Also, winter can be a lonely time for seniors. It’s hard to get out to socialize and run their regular errands, like going to the grocery store or meeting up with friends. But, when they’re staying in an assisted living community for a short visit, they have a built-in social life just outside their room. With entertainment, games, and exercise classes, they won’t feel isolated or bored when they have so much to do in an busy community. Plus, if they do want to get out and go, they don’t have to worry about driving. Many communities schedule outings and provide transportation.

Encourage your loved one to consider an assisted living short-term stay to see which community is the right fit for them both personally and financially. The transition from living in one’s own home to an assisted living community can be smooth and exciting when they already have a foundation of comfort and ties with a community. A short-term stay is key to making this process as easy as possible.

There are two UMH senior living communities currently offering 60-day trial stays: Middlewoods of Newington and Middlewoods of Farmington.

Middlewoods of Farmington is a distinctive, home-like community with 72 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments conveniently located on Farmington, across from the UCONN Health Center. If you're interested in learning more about Middlewoods of Farmington, download the brochure here or call 860.284.5700.

Middlewoods of Newington is a cozy, newly-renovated, single-story community with 60 studio, alcove and one-bedroom apartments conveniently located in Newington, not far from the Berlin Turnpike. If you're interested in learning more about Middlewoods of Newington, download the brochure here or call 860.667.1336.

Ready to schedule an assisted living short-term stay for your loved one? Learn more about a 60-day trial stay now!