Tips For Choosing Right Assisted Living

There is a huge variation among assisted living facilities. While this can make the process of choosing seem daunting, the plus side is that you have a good chance of finding a facility that is perfectly suited to your preferences and needs.

As you start your search, try not to get overwhelmed by all the options. Remember, amenities matter much less than the residents and staff. It’s the people that truly make any place, including an assisted living facility. You can tell a lot about a facility by the people who live and work there. You want a facility with an active social atmosphere—where the residents are friendly and the staff is caring and warm. Make sure that, overall, you feel the facility is a place where you will fit in and develop new relationships.

Ask about staffing patterns

To feel confident that you or your loved one will be well taken care of, it’s important to ask questions about the staffing levels and workload at an assisted living facility. For example, how many staff members are actually involved in residents’ care? How many people are working at any one time? What are their duties during those times—do they have time to interact with residents? Are there registered nurses on site? How do staffing patterns differ at night? What happens when a staff member is sick or otherwise unable to be at work—is there enough cover?

 

Other things to consider when choosing an assisted living facility

The most important factor when choosing an assisted living facility is that it feels friendly, safe, and comfortable to you. While the facility should be clean and well maintained, don’t place too much emphasis on surface appeal, such as designer furnishings, gourmet meals, and impeccable grounds. The facility you’ll be happiest at won’t necessarily be the most fancy or expensive. The bottom line is that the right facility for you is the facility where you feel most at home.

Does it feel homey to you? This is a personal preference. Do you prefer a smaller, cozier environment, or would you rather be in a larger, bustling place with more activities? Is outside design, such as gardens or other greenery, important to you?

Does the facility offer activities you’re interested in? Are there hobbies or activities on site, or transportation available to outside ones? Does the facility have amenities that are important to you such as a gym, recreation center, library, or a chapel?

Is the food appealing to you? Do you have the option of eating in your room if you would like to? What kinds of food are served? Is it nutritious and appetizing? Are their different food options available?

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? In the U.S., 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.

Supporting a loved one as they move to assisted living

A move to assisted living, even if all parties are in agreement, can be a stressful time. Here are some of the ways you can support a loved one:

• Acknowledge your loved one’s feelings of loss. Even in the best of situations—where your loved one willingly chose assisted living—grief and feelings of loss are to be expected. Leaving one’s home is a huge upheaval. Don’t minimize their feelings or focus excessively on the positive. Sympathize and respect feelings of loss and give them time to adjust.
• Call and visit as often as you can. Regular contact from friends and family will reassure your loved one that they’re still loved and cared for. Continue to include your loved one in family outings and events whenever possible. If your loved one lives far away, regular calls or emails can make a big difference.
• Work through concerns together. While your loved one will likely go through a period of adjustment after moving into an assisted living facility, don’t automatically assume that complaints are just part of the transition process. If your loved one has concerns, take them seriously. Talk about what steps you can take together to resolve the issue. And if the problem turns out to be a big one with no apparent solution, be prepared to look at other facilities.
• Help your loved one personalize their living space. Help your loved one choose and bring over the meaningful possessions and decorations that will give the new living space the feeling of home. But be careful not to take over. Let your loved one take the lead. He or she is going to be the one living there, after all.

Suggestions For Friends and Relatives

DO:   If requested, help with the sorting, packing, and moving. Listen as your loved one talks about what they left behind. Be helpful even if you do not agree with the decision to move. Recognize that moving to a new home represents a major change. Call and visit often during the first few weeks. Be positive. A smile, support, patience, and understanding are required.

DON’T:   Make all the decisions or take over the sorting, packing, and moving process. Focus only on yourselves. This is about the resident moving, not you! Criticize the decision to move into assisted living. Make light of the transition. Immediately talk about selling the resident’s house. Make promises that you cannot keep. Be negative.

Source: National Center for Assisted Living

 

Planning and paying for an assisted living facility

In evaluating assisted living, cost is often a major consideration, especially since the majority of the costs will most likely come out of your own pocket. Assisted living facilities are owned and operated by both for-profit and non-profit organizations and can range in cost from approximately $800 to $4,000 a month or more, depending on where you live. This is a big investment, so taking time to develop a budget and prioritize your needs will really pay off in the long run.

Paying for an assisted living facility

You may be wondering if health insurance or governmental programs will cover any of the costs of assisted living. If you have purchased private long term-care insurance, check the provisions of your plan to find out how much assisted living is covered.

In the United States, Medicare, government health insurance for older adults, does not cover the costs of assisted living. In some cases Medicaid—government health insurance based on financial need—may provide a limited benefit. Additionally, there are some board and care homes that will accept Supplemental Security income as payment. However, a limited amount of assisted living facilities accept these programs because of the lower rates they receive. Special populations like veterans may have access to VA-approved board and care homes, or veterans’ homes which provide a continuum of care.

Evaluating the costs of an assisted living facility

• Don’t assume that expensive always means better. Focus on what the facility has to offer specific to your wants and needs, and the quality and responsiveness of the staff.
• Make sure you understand how the facility bills. Is there a flat fee, or do additional services require additional costs? For example, say you start to need a higher level of care at the facility. How will that be managed? It is your right to have access to this information. If a facility balks or is vague, find another facility.
• Get a sense of rate increases. You don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised by sharp rate increases. While you can’t completely predict the future, try to get a sense of how rates have risen in the past.

What to look for when you visit
Location

• Is a hospital nearby?
• How far is the community from your loved one’s doctors?
• Does it have local amenities such convenient public transit, grocery stores and other shopping, and services like a dry cleaner?

Staff

• What are the staff’s credentials?
• Do they act in a professional manner and seem eager to help?
• What hours do the administrators work, and are they usually available during the day to deal with issues that arise?

Housing

• What floor plans and options are available?
• Are independent living residences equipped with dishwashers and other appliances?
• Do they have safety features such as nonslip floors and grip bars?
• Is outdoor space available for your loved one to enjoy?
• Are the facility’s common areas well maintained? Take a look yourself, too.
• Are private rooms with baths available in the assisted living and nursing facilities?
• Where are emergency exits, sprinklers and other security and safety measures?

Residents

• Talk to people who live in the community. Do they like the place, its services and its care?
• Does staff seem attentive to their needs without being too intrusive?
• Is the community worth the cost?

Meals

• What meal programs are offered?
• How many entrée choices are available?
• Are special diets accommodated?
• What meals have residents been offered in the past month? Ask for menus to make sure of some variety.

Health care services

• What’s available with each level of care, and what is included in the entrance and monthly fees?
• Is specialized care for dementia and other health conditions available?
• Is a pharmacy on site, and does qualified staff monitor medication?

Personal services

• Can residents in independent living get help with everyday activities, or are those services available only to assisted living and nursing home residents?
• Is housekeeping, laundry or linen services offered? Do they cost extra?
• Is a hair salon on site?
• What transportation services are available?

Social activities and recreation

• What kind of social events are planned? Check for weekly or monthly schedule of activities.
• Is a common area for residents available? Does it offer recreational activities such as access to television or movies, cards and games?
• Are off-site trips part of the amenities? Exercise facilities and fitness classes? Opportunities for worship?

Medicare also recommends checking the inspection report for the nursing home component of a continuing care retirement community, which will be posted in the facility.