When finding assisted living in Arizona, seniors often look at a variety of factors.

For some, they want to be close to friends or family. For others, they would like to be near a variety of amenities like shopping centers, banks, restaurants, or beauty salons. Still others would like to live close to their church or synagogue.

But one other point that all seniors who are locating assisted living facilities should also consider is the proximity of the residence to a major hospital.

This may seem like a morbid point to think about, but the reality is that many people who live in assisted living facilities already have a pre-existing health condition. Some may be relatively minor and the senior may be in little danger of becoming ill, but the fact remains that the vast majority of people who live in assisted living are seniors, and things can and do happen to their health that require hospitalization.

Oftentimes seniors will think about their own personal doctor and where he or she practices when selecting where to live. This also makes sense—whether you go in once or twice a year for checkups or if you have a health issue that requires more regular office visits, being close to the medical complex where the physician works can have a lot of benefits.

But again, seniors should be ready to think outside their health box a bit and ask themselves how long of an ambulance ride they would need to take if the worst happened and they suffered from a bad fall or had a heart attack or stroke. The most lovely of assisted living facilities may not seem as attractive when you look at a map and realize the closest hospital is 20 miles away.

Another point to consider is which hospitals your loved one’s primary care physician has privileges; that may influence which assisted living facility he or she chooses. Being admitted into the hospital for a health issue can be stressful enough; for many, getting to see a familiar face who can help treat them can be a blessing.

When narrowing down which assisted living facilities, seniors can ask staff members about proximity to major hospitals. Then, if they are able, they can drive there themselves to test the time and distance or have a family member do it. In general, the closer your loved one can be to a hospital, the better all of you will probably feel.