Starting and running an assisted living facility is an enormous
responsibility. Before you start one, you might want to make sure you
have searched your soul and decided that you want to do this because it
is a passion not because you think its a great way to make money,
otherwise you may be in for a big surprise.
Operating
an assisted living building requires a huge amount of knowledge - some
people have back grounds in nursing or nursing home administration. I
would even recommend that you work in an existing home to learn as much
as you can about this 24X7 job. It will also give you a chance to interact with the patients.
You
can also contact the state governing body that licenses assisted living
which may be the department of health. You may also want to contact
the Assisted Living Federation of America (
www.alfa.org) or the American Association of Homes and Service for the Aging (
www.aahsa.org) which are both national associations for providers of assisted living care.
And
like any other person who wants to start a business, you need to do
your homework. You may want to contact your local Small Business
Association office for help. You are going to want to analyze the
demographics of the area to make sure there is a need in the community
and that those that need it could afford what you plan on charging.
You need to pick a great location that is residential in feel, yet
close to local healthcare facilities and easy for doctors and
professionals to visit. You also have to spend a great deal of time
finding the right employees and making sure they are trained to care
for and communicate with seniors. And don't underestimate the need for
marketing your home. Its not like the field of dreams... if you build
it they will come. Its a hard product to explain and to sell, so
factor in the cost of hiring a professional to do the marketing.
Posted by: Jason — 02/01/2014
I'm in Florida, and we're close to opening. It's taken me a year to find the right home and 6 months running to convert the home through the appropriate channels. Before you do anything.....take your state's Administrator Course. This will give you an idea on how to begin (and you need an Administrator to get a license . I'm in Hillsborough County, so I can help here, but every county has there hot buttons. Prepare yourself and make sure you have some cash to convert the home after you buy. It can get expensive. We're on a well and septic (the most difficult to permit).