Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

• Do the admission criteria match my needs?
• Terms of financial/provider agreement
   reviewed?
• Unused portion of the rent refunded at
   transfer/discharge?
• Do I have a choice in the selection of health
   care providers if additional services are
   needed?
• Are specific services clearly identified in the
   agreement?
• Have I reviewed the house rules?
• Have I reviewed all of the reasons for which
   I may be transferred of discharged?
• Is the facility licensed by the state and in
   good standing?

• Is the bedroom private or shared?
• Is the bathroom private or shared?
• Are the shared areas clean?
• Is there space for personal belongings?
• Does the floor plan allow for easy mobility
• Private areas other than the room for visits?

• Is bathroom safety equipment installed?
• Is there a call system?
• Are walkers/wheelchairs permitted?
• Hall and doors at width for wheelchairs?

• Am I involved in the care planning process?
• Is my family/responsible party involved?
• Is my physician-health provider involved?
• Are care plans updated reflecting changes in
   needs?

Does the facility provide:

• Assistance with dressing?
• Assistance with bathing?
• How frequently is weekly bathing provided?
• Is there assistance with toileting?
• Is there assistance with incontinency?
• Help with transfers from wheelchair to bed
• Assistance with medications?

• What is the administrator’s training?
• Do staff receive special needs training?
• Is there high staff turn-over?
• What is the ratio of staff to resident?
• Are staff awake at night?

• Are specialized diets available?
• Cultural or ethnic preferences considered?
• Are residents involved in menu planning?
• Can residents help with meal preparation
• Do residents have access to the kitchen?
• Snacks/beverages available between meals?
• Are extra helpings - substitutions available?

• Are activities available within the facility?
• Does the facility take residents on outings?
• SOmeone designated to conduct activities?
• Do interests match level/type of activities?
• Are there residents I can socialize with?
• Is there a written schedule of activities?
• Does the facility provide transportation?

• Facility communicate with family/physician?

• Do you feel comfortable talking with the:
     • Administrator/Operator
     • Manager/Billing
     • Staff/Caregivers
• Is the grievance procedure understood?
• Is telephone use accessible
• Is it conducive to privacy?

• Have I toured the entire facility?
• Have I observed the kitchen?
• Have I observed a meal preparation?
• Does the atmosphere seem pleasant?
• Seem to be enough staff available?
• Are pets allowed?
• Do residents seem happy and engaged?
• Do residents appear to be clean-groomed?
• Observed for staff/resident interaction?
• Have I observed for cleanliness and odors?

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is an option for senior citixens who want or need help with some of the activities of daily living (or ADL's). Assisted living becomes a viable option if you or your loved one is havig trouble with everyday activities like cooking meals, getting to the bathroom, keeping house, and driving or traveling.

Assisted living facilities are a good choice if you need more personal care than you can get at home or an independent living retirement community. You don’t need 24 hour medical care and supervision - you're just needing assistance with some activities of your life as they become a challenge for you with aging.

Assisted living facilities offer the safety and security of 24-hour support and access to care. Day or night, help is on-premises and immediately available with the pull of an emergency call apparatus standard with most assisted living rooms.

With assisted living facilities privacy and independence are encouraged.A good facility will develop a personalized plan that meets your needs and accommodates your disabilities, while giving you the freedom to do what you can for yourself. Some provide apartment-style living with scaled down kitchens - others provide rooms. Some facilities offer semi-private shared rooms for those unwilling to pay higher cost. Most facilities feature group dining rooms and common areas for social and recreational activities.

Services at a typical assisted living facility

• Three meals a day served in a common dining area
• Assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, and walking
• Housekeeping services
• Access to health and medical services
• Round the clock security
• Emergency call systems in each resident’s living space
• Exercise and wellness programs
• Medication management
• Laundry services
• Social and recreational activities
• Staff available to help with scheduled needs, as well as unexpected issues

Is an Assisted Living Facility Right For You?

If you’re trying to decide whether assisted living is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you need more help than family and friends are able to provide? Are the activities of daily living becoming stressful or overwhelming? If family or in-home help is not able to bridge the gap, assisted living is an option.

Do you feel lonely or isolated at home? Having an active social life is vital to your health and happiness. Being alone much of the time is a recipe for depression. The social aspect of assisted living is a huge benefit. Good facilities offer a range of social and recreational activities. And the community environment also gives the opportunity to make new friends.

Do you worry for your safety? Perhaps your mobility is limited, making it difficult to get out of bed by yourself, for example. Maybe you’re afraid of what might happen if you fell and couldn’t get up, or experience another problem and couldn’t get help.

Are you tired of maintaining a home? There are a lot of responsibilities that come with living in your own home. Assisted living facilities can provide a home-like atmosphere, without the work of cooking, cleaning, shopping for groceries, and doing laundry.

Is transportation an issue? Perhaps you’re having trouble driving or can no longer drive. If public transportation or another alternative isn’t easy and convenient, you may be increasingly housebound. Assisted living facilities offer transportation, so you can get where you need to go without having to rely on friends and family.

Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

What to look for in the staff:

• Do they have time to speak with you or does it feel rushed?
• Do they appear genuinely interested in you?
• Do they interact warmly with current residents?
• How do they handle emergencies?
• What to look for in the residents:

• Do they appear happy?
• Do they enjoy interacting with one another?
• Do they seem like people whom you’d enjoy getting to know?
• Are there hobbies or groups on site that look interesting to you?

Other Considerations When Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

An assisted living facility should feel friendly, safe, and comfortable to you when you are visiting and touring a new facility. The bottom line is that the right facility for you is the one where you feel most at home. The facility should be clean and well maintained, of course, but the facility you’ll be happiest at won’t necessarily be the most fancy or expensive.

Of course feeling comfortable and having a sense of home is a matter of personal preference. Do you prefer a smaller, cozier environment, or would you rather be in a larger, bustling place with more activities? Are external building asthetics, such as gardens or other greenery, important to you? ALl of these things are to be taken into consideration.

All facilities offer activities however, they may not appeal to your particular tastes or interests. You need to inquire if there are hobbies or activities on site, and whethere transportation is available to events off premises? Does the facility have amenities that are important to you such as a gym, recreation center, library, or a chapel?

Eating habits are also to be taken into consideration. Are you able to eat in your room if you'd like? What kinds of food are served and does the facility offer a seasonal menu?

How are health problems handled? How does the facility handle both emergency and non-emergency problems? If you develop a medical condition, will you be able to remain at the facility? At what point would you be required to move elsewhere for medical care?

Is the facility in compliance with state and local licensing requirements? Each state has different standards, so you will want to check with your local regulatory agency to make sure that the facility is licensed and in compliance. You can also check the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against the facility.