How do you know which Lifestyle level is appropriate?

Senior LIFEsteps can help.

If you are looking for a retirement community for yourself or someone you love and are uncertain if you're looking for Retirement Community Living or a Residential Care Facility, we can help. Sometimes the needs of a loved one are confusing; one may be independent in many areas and need help in others. Add concern, love and possibly a lack of medical knowledge and this can be a very stressful decision. If you need help determining an appropriate lifestyle or level of care, we can help. We have implemented an evidence-based screening program known as Senior LIFEsteps. Through the administration of various screening tools we identify the needs of potential and existing community members. We then assist in determining the most appropriate level of living to meet those needs. Senior LIFEsteps is a valuable tool in determining where an individual person is on a care scale and identifying specific needs. This process takes most of the emotion and guesswork out of the decision-making equation and bases a placement decision on actual needs.

The screening tools included in this program:

• Evaluate gait, balance and mobility helping us to detect the risk for falling
• Identify cognitive problems or memory loss
• Determine the ability to safely manage medications
• Identify depressive symptoms

In addition, the Wassenaar Continuum Scale, found only in the Senior LIFEsteps program identifies needs for:

• Chronic disease management
• Medication management
• Assistance with basic and instrumental activities of daily living
• Incontinence care
• Management of memory and behavior issues

The final score suggests the appropriate lifestyle and level of care to meet the needs identified through the Senior LIFEsteps program.

For more information about Senior LIFEsteps or to schedule a screening, contact Parkside at 636-946-4966.

Take out the guesswork and feel confident in your decision.