Top Questions Families Ask About Assisted Living in Fenton

Yann Cazavet • September 12, 2025

Your Complete FAQ Guide to Assisted Living in Fenton, Michigan

When a loved one begins to need more support with daily life, families often search for the best options in senior care. At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, we understand how important it is to have clear, honest answers during this transition. That’s why we’ve gathered the top questions families ask about assisted living in Fenton, Michigan — and our answers are designed to guide you every step of the way.


1. What is the difference between an assisted living facility and a nursing home?


Families often wonder if assisted living is the same as a nursing home. The short answer is no. An Assisted Living Facility in Fenton provides help with daily living — meals, medication reminders, and personal care — while still promoting independence and a home-like environment. Nursing homes, on the other hand, are designed for residents who require 24/7 skilled medical care.

At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, our focus is on Alzheimer’s and memory care in a warm, supportive community rather than a clinical institution.


2. How safe is assisted living for seniors with memory loss or Alzheimer’s?


Safety is the number one concern for families. At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, our community is specifically designed for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia:

  • Secure entry and exit points prevent wandering.
  • 24-hour caregivers monitor residents day and night.
  • Medication management ensures accuracy and consistency.

Families can feel confident knowing their loved ones are in a protected environment that still feels like home.


Another key difference is our staff-to-resident ratio. While many large facilities stretch their staff thin, at Tanglewood there are always at least three staff members on site for just 12 residents — often even four. That means at any given time, there are two caregivers present, plus our manager, and sometimes myself or our assistant manager. This level of attention is well above the industry average and ensures residents receive faster, more compassionate, and more personalized care.


3. What kind of medical care is available in an assisted living facility in Fenton?


While assisted living is not a hospital, residents at Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton receive:

  • Medication reminders and administration.
  • Coordination with local physicians and specialists.
  • On-call nursing support for emergencies.
  • Transportation to medical appointments in the Fenton area.

This balance of personalized care and medical support ensures residents remain safe, comfortable, and healthy.


4. Can families visit their loved ones freely?


Absolutely. Family involvement is a cornerstone of care at Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton. We encourage visits as often as possible, and many families join residents for meals, activities, or outings. Our open-door policy helps residents stay connected to the people they love most.


5. What types of activities are available for residents?


Life at Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton is more than just care — it’s about living fully. Activities include:

  • Music, art, and gardening programs.
  • Gentle exercise and movement sessions.
  • Social events and family gatherings.
  • Specialized Alzheimer’s activities to encourage memory and engagement.

These programs not only provide joy but also support mental and emotional well-being.


6. How much does Alzheimer’s and memory care cost in Fenton, Michigan?


Families searching for an Assisted Living Facility in Fenton often struggle to find clear pricing. Because Alzheimer’s and memory care require more staff, specialized training, and secure environments, the costs are higher than standard assisted living.

  • Typical Range in Fenton: Memory care in Fenton generally ranges from about $4,500 to $7,500+ per month, depending on the level of care, room type, and services offered.
  • Lower-end Options: Some smaller or minimal facilities in the area may advertise starting rates closer to $3,000/month, but these typically provide fewer services, less outdoor space, and lower staff-to-resident ratios.
  • Why Boutique Care Matters: Big-box facilities may look impressive — like hotels with chandeliers and fancy lobbies — but often they’re located near busy roads, gas stations, or shopping centers, with little outdoor space. Staffing can also be stretched thin across 100+ residents.


Another thing families must watch out for is hidden fees. Many large facilities advertise a lower “base fee” — for example, $5,000/month — but then charge extra for nearly everything: in-room television, private phone line, medication handling, transportation, even basic personal services. Over time, these add-ons can drive costs far higher than expected.


At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, we are different. Our pricing is upfront, transparent, and all-inclusive. Families know from the beginning what the cost will be — no hidden fees, no surprises. What you see is what you get, and that peace of mind is priceless.


At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, we take a boutique approach: a smaller, more personalized setting with gardens, fresh air, consistent caregivers, and customized care plans. Unlike large institutional facilities that often add hidden fees and higher overhead costs, families at Tanglewood receive more attentive, higher-quality care at a more transparent and affordable overall cost.


For exact pricing, we invite families to schedule a tour or call us directly. That way, we can tailor a plan to your loved one’s unique needs.


7. When is the right time to consider assisted living in Fenton?


Families usually consider assisted living when a loved one:

  • Begins forgetting to take medications.
  • Experiences falls or safety risks at home.
  • Becomes isolated or lonely.
  • Needs help with personal care tasks such as bathing or dressing.

At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, we encourage families to talk to us early, so we can help prepare for a smooth transition.


8. Why choose Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton?


Choosing an assisted living facility is a deeply personal decision. Families in Fenton trust Tanglewood because:

  • We specialize exclusively in Alzheimer’s and memory care.
  • Our home-like setting feels warm, calm, and personal.
  • We offer more green space, gardens, and outdoor living than large institutional facilities.
  • Our caregivers are dedicated to treating every resident with dignity and compassion.


Final Thoughts


If you’re searching for an Assisted Living Facility in Fenton, asking the right questions is the first step toward peace of mind. At Tanglewood Assisted Living Facility Fenton, we welcome families to visit, tour our community, and see firsthand how we provide compassionate, boutique Alzheimer’s care in a safe and supportive environment.

For more information or to schedule a visit, contact us today — we’re here to help.

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An older woman holding a cellphone with a younger woman leaning over her shoulder.

Tips for Talking with Memory Loss Patients

February 6, 2025
At Tanglewood Assisted Living, we practice the five foot rule with memory loss patients. If you wish to be understood by a memory loss patient, you should be within five feet of that person when you speak to them. Most memory loss patients simply cannot process words that are shouted at them from across the room. In order to communicate effectively you should get close, make eye contact and begin by using the person’s first name. If the patient is sitting down, you should not stand over them and talk down to them. When you stand up, you assume a dominate posture which makes people feel uncomfortable. Instead, kneel down so you are at the same eye level as the patient and you will immediately put them at ease. Touch is important to memory loss patients. While you’re speaking, hold their hand or put your hand on their arm or shoulder. Be generous with hugs and handshakes. At Tanglewood, the staff is trained repeatedly to maintain a calm and pleasant tone of voice. Memory loss patients have not lost their ability to appreciate tone of voice and if you become upset you will only make a bad situation worse. Some patients will be depressed or mad at the world. With these you should commiserate. Offer compassion, sympathy and condolences. Other patients may be mad at you. They may accuse you of all sorts of atrocities. With these folks you should simply apologize and say you’ll try to do better. You should never get mad. Always remain calm and pleasant. If you do feel yourself becoming upset, walk away. Make sure the patient is safe and walk away. Come back in ten minutes and the patient’s attitude will have changed completely. Ask only simple questions of a memory loss patient - questions which require a yes or no answer. Don’t ask “would you like lemonade or ice tea?” Even such mildly complex questions generate confusion. Ask only yes or no questions. The best chance of having a coherent conversation with a middle or late stage memory loss patient is to talk about events that happened long ago. Such very old memories usually remain intact and the memory loss patient will feel comfortable talking about them. If possible, bring photographs from the patient’s younger days and talk about the people and places in the pictures. Finally, musical memories also remain intact. A patient will remember and enjoy the lyrics and melodies of music they’ve heard throughout their lives and especially music they heard as a child. They will usually enjoy and sing along with hymns and pop music songs they heard in their youth.
A woman is sitting on a bench in a park next to an elderly man in a wheelchair.

Incontinence with Memory Loss Patients

February 6, 2025
Unfortunately, almost all memory loss patients will become incontinent. At first they will have an occasional accident but eventually they will forget when and how to use the bathroom and will need to wear an undergarment all the time. While nothing can prevent this from happening, there are some techniques which can delay incontinence and cut down on the number of accidents. Prompting: Accidents often occur because the memory loss patient simply waited too long before heading for the bathroom. If a caregiver will prompt the patient every two to three hours, by asking if they need to use the bathroom, the number of accidents can be reduced significantly. If the memory loss patient continually says they don’t need to use the bathroom, the caregiver should respond with “let’s give it a try” and help the patient to the bathroom. By the time you get to the bathroom, the memory loss patient may suddenly realize they have to go. An old trick which may help is to sit the patient on the toilet and run water. Bedside Commodes: Many accident happen at night. Often a sleepy resident will have trouble getting to the bathroom in time. Putting a portable commode next to the bed and keeping a night light in the room will help this situation. Washable Protective Pads: An incontinent patient can damage or destroy furniture, mattresses and carpeting. A caregiver may have to remove and wash bed linen every morning. Even the best undergarments are subject to leaks. If you have a loved one in the house who suffers with incontinence, you should cover your furniture with washable protective pads, often called “chuck” pads. Chuck pads should be used to cover furniture and mattresses. Even mattresses with waterproof mattress pads should also have an extra large chuck pad underneath. These pads are now available in a variety of colors to match the furniture. Undergarments: Some undergarments pull up and down like underwear and are useful in the early stages of incontinence when the patient still uses the bathroom by themselves and the undergarment is mainly to protect against accidents. To change this type of undergarment however, the caregiver must remove the patients shoes and pants to put on a new undergarment. This inconvenience can be avoided by using briefs which are secured on the sides with elastic bands and buttons. These can be changed without removing the patient’s pants.
One older man and one younger man sitting together at a table looking at a laptop.

Important Legal Documents for Memory Loss Patients

February 6, 2025
Memory loss in the elderly, whether brought on by Alzheimer’s disease or some other cause, is a progressive condition, becoming worse over time. At some point in the progression of this condition an elderly patient will lose the ability to make rational decisions and someone else, usually an adult child, will have to take over responsibility for making medical and financial decisions on behalf of the memory loss patient. For this change to take place legally, quickly and inexpensively, two important documents must be signed by the elderly patient while they are still competent to make legal decisions. Medical Durable Power of Attorney A Medical Durable Power of Attorney (MDPA) is a legal document appointing someone else to speak for a patient regarding medical decisions, in the event the patient cannot speak for themselves. The document specifically names an individual, plus one or two alternates, to take charge of medical care. The document also allows a patient to specify certain types of treatment they do or do not want in the event the patient cannot speak for themselves and will not recover from their illness. Ideally, this document should be signed long before someone develops memory loss. If an elderly patient is diagnosed with memory loss and does not have a MDPA in place, the patient may still have time to sign a MDPA. Most elderly patients in the very early stages of memory loss, are still quite independent and rational and would still be considered legally competent to sign legal documents. This fact affords the memory loss patient an opportunity to execute and sign a MDPA even after being diagnosed. Once a memory loss diagnosis is made, the elderly patient and their family need to move quickly to have a MDPA executed, before the elderly patient’s competency to sign legal docments become questionable. Memory loss can progress quite rapidly in some patients and dramatic changes in abilities can occur almost overnight. The family of a patient with memory loss will be called upon to make difficult choices regarding medical care. One such choice occurs frequently with late-stage memory loss patients and provides a good example of the importance of an MDPA. Near the end of life, many memory loss patients stop eating. A patient may be hand-fed for a time but eventually the patient stops swallowing and any further attempts at hand-feeding will cause aspiration or choking. At this point the family must decide whether to connect their parent to a feeding tube or allow their loved one to pass away. With an MDPA in place, the family will not have to guess how their parent felt about such a difficult decision. The MDPA will state specifically whether the patient does or does not want such life-prolonging medical care. The MDPA accomplishes many objectives. It makes the transition of responsibility for medical decisions smooth and inexpensive, avoiding the possibility of costly and time-consuming court hearings. It allows the elderly parent to set forth in detail the type of medical treatment they do or do not wish to receive in the event they are terminally ill and cannot speak for themselves. It relieves the adult children of the burden and uncertainty of trying to guess how the parent felt about life-prolonging medical treatment. It allows the patient advocate to execute a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order to make certain the facility caring for their parent follows their parent’s wishes regarding life-prolonging medical treatment. General Durable Power of Attorney Similar to a Medical Durable Power of Attorney, a General Durable Power of Attorney (GDPA) appoints someone to act on behalf of the memory loss patient for financial and property decisions. (If the memory loss patient has a trust, the language of the trust may have the same effect as the GDPA, giving authority to a successor trustee to handle financial affairs when the memory loss patient can no longer handle such matters.) Without a GDPA (or the equivalent language in a trust,) a court hearing will be required to appoint and empower a conservator who will handle financial and property affairs for the memory loss patient. Such court hearings can be expensive. Both the Medical Durable Power of Attorney and the General Durable Power of Attorney are critical legal documents. They give effect to the wishes of the people involved and they avoid the expense and uncertainty of probate court oversight.
An elderly man walking with a cane in a park.

Preventing Wandering with Memory Loss Patients

February 6, 2025
Quite often a memory loss patient will say they need to “go home”, even when that patient is living in a house where they’ve spent their entire adult life. The “home” a memory loss patient seeks is probably the home where they grew up. Even though short-term memory is deteriorating, long-term memories remain intact and are very real to the memory loss patient. Because of this, memory loss patients often behave as if the places of their youth are nearby. They also believe the people who were close to them in their childhood are still alive. Frequently, memory loss patients will say they have to go because their mom or dad is waiting for them. Such powerful impulses often drive patients to leave their own home or an assisted living facility and wander away outside. Sometimes patients will wander outside even in the worst weather. Sadly, wandering is a common cause of injury and death for memory loss patients. DOOR ALARMS: Door alarms are essential for any home where a memory loss patient resides. Wireless versions are available at many hardware stores and are easy to install. Magnetic transmitters are attached next to each exit door and generate an electrical signal whenever the door is opened. The signal then triggers an alarm. During the day the device can be set to emit a one-time alarm, something like a doorbell. At night the setting can be changed so the device emits a noisy, continuous alarm, something akin to a police siren. The alarm will continue to sound until a until a switch on the side of the device is reset. The continuous alarm ensures that a sleeping caregiver will wake up if their loved one is trying to walk out at night. (The alarm has the added benefit of deterring anyone attempting to force entry into your house at night.) Although more elaborate and expensive alarm systems are available, such as ones that sound only when the memory loss patient approaches an exit door, a simple wireless system is probably sufficient. Remember, these alarms don’t work unless the door is closed each time between uses. WINDOW PROTECTION: Memory loss patients can be very determined and will occasionally climb out a window. Windows can be fitted with stop guards which only allow the window to open a few inches. Some windows have stop guards built-in and if not, after-market stop guards can be purchased inexpensively at your local hardware store. Check with your fire department before installing any device that limits the opening of a window which may be considered a fire exit. Window alarms, which function like door alarms, are also available at many hardware and home supply stores. SUPERVISED WALKS: For memory loss patients who remain physically fit and active, a long walk outside with a caregiver can reduce the patient’s desire to leave the house. In addition to reducing the desire to wander, the fresh air and the exercise can also help with the patient’s sleep habits and overall attitude. Usually, longer walks produce better results. The patient returns to the house tired, more content and less agitated. If the patient is willing, you should take walks in all seasons. Walks help the caregiver as well and provide memories of quality time spent with a loved one. IDENTIFICATION WRIST BANDS: Memory loss patients can be fitted with a bracelet which serve the same purpose as a medical alert bracelet. The bracelet identifies the person and their condition and includes phone numbers to call if anyone encounters the memory loss patient on the street. This type of identification is a good idea provided the memory loss patient will wear the bracelet. SEARCHING: If a memory loss patient does wander off, call the police immediately. Many police departments have tracking dogs trained to follow a scent. Call local television stations to broadcast pictures and information about your lost loved one. Immediately have someone visit or call everyone in your neighborhood. Often a memory loss patient will end up on the porch or in the garage of a nearby house. Have as many people as possible begin searching in cars and on foot or bicycle.
A barn with a fence around it and an American flag.

Finding a Safe Long-Term Care Facility

February 6, 2025
One day it may be necessary for a loved one to move to an assisted living facility. How can you be sure the facility you choose is safe and secure? Here are some questions you should ask.