When choosing an assisted living community for your loved one, it is important to understand the layout and features of the available options. This guide will help you navigate floor plans and make an informed decision for your loved one. It’s important to understand how to read floor plans since it will determine the type of living space you will end up with. It can also make it easier to identify an ideal assisted living community. Before touring the community, you can read the floor plans to find out if they have living facilities to your liking. If a specific assisted living community does not have apartments in the floor plan that you want, you will have saved yourself a trip to the community. Most communities will have images of the floor plans on their websites that you can review before deciding if it’s worth visiting or not. This has the potential to save a lot of time and money.
Familiarize Yourself with Floor Plan Symbols
First, familiarize yourself with the layout and symbols used in floor plans. Identify the common areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Evaluate the size of the room and its layout, including features like private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and in-room storage. This is not difficult since the number of major symbols you might need to know are few. You can find great resources online explaining the meanings of all the major resources, giving you an upper hand in understanding each floor plan.
Check the Amenities
It is also important to assess the amenities available, such as common areas like dining rooms, recreation rooms, and outdoor spaces. Consider the proximity of these areas to the bedrooms to ensure that your loved one will have easy access to the services they need. The amenities you require should be in line with the needs of the guest. It may be necessary to first have a conversation with them about what they need from an ideal apartment, so that you can have a rough idea of what the floor plan should look like. If you are searching for the assisted living community for yourself, the first step should be identifying needs that are important to you.
Safety Features
Finally, make sure to evaluate the safety features in the assisted living community. Look for features like grab bars, wheelchair ramps, and emergency call systems to ensure that the community meets your loved one’s safety and accessibility needs. This is particularly important for individuals who may have difficulty with mobility, such as having to use a wheelchair. These individuals would need to read a floor plan and understand whether it’s also wide enough for their needs, and if there are ramps where needed.
Reading floor plans is a crucial step in evaluating assisted living communities. By familiarizing yourself with the layout, space, amenities, and safety features, you can make an informed decision for your loved one and ensure that they receive the care and support they need.
