Top 10 Tips for Selecting the Best Assisted Living Facility

Top 10 Tips for Selecting the Best Assisted Living Facility

1.)  Arrive early for your appointment.  Bring paper and pad for note taking and be prepared to act as an interviewer. Scout out caregivers like yourself (in the parking lot or lobby) and ASK them a lot of QUESTIONS.  Questions like how long their Mom or Dad have been living here.  Ask if they are happy here; have they settled into a comfortable routine, have they made new friends? What are their parent(s) likes and dislikes? Ask as many people as possible to get an informed perspective.  

2.)  Care Assessment: A good assisted living facility will offer a Free Assessment to evaluate Mom/Dad before accepting them as a resident.  This initial assessment conducted by a nurse will give you a better idea of the monthly cost for assisted living and give you a better understanding of the level of care Mom/Dad really needs.  In addition, it is important to know how often an assessment for level of care is conducted for the residents. This is where the facility evaluates your Mom/Dad regarding safety, mobility, nutritional needs, mental status, hygiene issues, communication abilities, medication management and more.  With each assessment, be prepared to see possibly an influx in monthly cost should Mom/Dad health decline.

3.)  Safety.  Ask about and observe the facility in terms of SAFETY. Are there grab bars in bathrooms, emergency alert systems in place, and evacuation procedures posted? Are the grounds secured or do they require a key to gain entry between certain hours like 6 PM and 8 AM?

4.)  Staff/Caregiver/Management Turnover.  Get the facts…ask how long has the Executive Director been at the property? Does the Director have an “open door” policy? How long has the Director of Nursing for the Assisted Living property been at this community? Is there a dietician on staff to monitor Mom/Dad’s diet restrictions? What is the caregiver staff to resident ratio?

5.)  Tour. See. Smell. Mingle.   Don’t be shy on this tour- you need good, solid information to determine if this is THE place for your Mom/Dad. Observe the cleanliness of the community; does it smell fresh? Ask residents how they like living here.  This will be their opinion, of course, but it will give caregivers a sense of the resident mix at the community.

6.)  Ownership. Identify who owns the property your parent is considering. A troubled economy can lead to change of ownership which typically means change of management.  Do some research on the individual or corporation that owns the property.

7.)  Clinical Services.  Ask about clinical services available for residents. What visiting doctor, non-medical services, cleaning services, Medicare Home Health Agency serves are available on site?

8.)  Hospital/Skilled Nursing and Rehab relations.   If Mom/Dad falls or needs skilled nursing or rehabilitation it is good to know if the property has a relationship with a rehab close by.  Where would your parent be taken in a 911 situation and how close to the property is this? Your parent’s doctors should have privilege for continuity of care- confirms that they will.

9.)  Continuity of Care.  Is the property positioned to offer additional services as Mom/Dad’s level of care requirements increase? Moving is one of life’s big stressors so you want a community that will be able to address their changing needs.

10.)   Protocol.  Get the facts.  Find out what is protocol for the property after hours. If there is a medical need, is there a home health aide on call, or a registered nurse or property manager? Who will respond to your loved one in an after-hours emergency?

About the Author:

Terry Lynne Hale has over 30 years of sales, marketing, writing, research and training experience in a variety of industries. Terry thrives on sharing information and credits many authors with being instrumental in developing the person she is today.  Passions include family, the Internet, pets, the planet, the Internet, writing, the Internet, publishing, the Internet, marketing, and the Internet. 

Terry’s experience sourcing and locating independent and assisted living for her parents was the beginning of her exploration into care giving and elder care issues.  Subsequent assistance finding housing for loved ones of friends and family has cemented her interest in Boomer and Senior care.  Terry is committed to getting the word out that it is possible – even preferable, to begin a search for this kind of housing via the Internet, thus her new position as Boomer Care Adviser for SilverCensus.  With an invaluable resource like SilverCensus offering Free Placement Assistance for Home Care and Assisted Living, your efforts are streamlined, and you save time and money. Source: SilverCensus Senior Living Home Care Directory