Beginning the process of selecting an assisted living facility in Phoenix can be a daunting task.  Hundreds of assisted living residences are located throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.  While it is nice to have a wide range of choices for our loved ones who are looking to move into assisted living, deciding which place is best can feel overwhelming at times.

The following five tips can help break down the process, and help families focus on key areas that should be taken into consideration when choosing an assisted living facility:

1. Location Matters

Location, location, location—for many people, this is one of the first things they will look at when choosing an assisted living facility.  If your loved one has lived for many years in Phoenix, and is familiar with the area, then focusing on assisted living facilities that are in or close to his old neighborhood might be helpful.  Or, if family members are going to be visiting often, selecting a facility close by can make a lot of sense.  By narrowing down the search by geographic location, it can help narrow the field of choices so they do not feel as overwhelming.

2. Cost of Assisted Living

In a perfect world, cost would not be an issue.  But in reality, families must look at whether or not an assisted living facility in Phoenix is affordable.  Knowing ahead of time what the monthly rents are is extremely useful in narrowing down the list of possible properties.

3. Services

While most assisted living facilities offer a central dining hall with meal service at certain times of the day during the week, many of the services do vary from location to location.  Will your loved one need help with laundry or housekeeping service?  Does she require reminders to take her medication?  Is he still pretty independent and would he like a small kitchen in his apartment?

4. Years in Business

Knowing how long assisted living facilities have been in business is an important piece of information to have.  While newly-founded locations can certainly be as nice and reputable as more established properties, some people prefer to live in an assisted living facility that has been around, at the same location, for a number of years.

5. Proximity to Hospitals

Some of the assisted living facilities in Phoenix are located close to hospitals, while others are a longer distance away.  For seniors who are still in good health, being close to a hospital might not be as important as it is to residents who are struggling with health issues. For some, knowing a hospital is close by if need be can be a comfort.

By keeping these five tips in mind, it should be easier to narrow down the huge list of Phoenix assisted living facilities to a more manageable group of candidates.