Senior Living Q & A

Assisted Living Q & A: Questions You Need to Ask

We would prefer that our loved ones live at home for as long as possible.  Home is where they feel safe and secure.  However, there may come a time when staying at home is no longer a safe option.  There will be an incident that brings us to this realization such as our loved ones forgetting to take their medication, forgetting to eat their meals or even just the loneliness associated with living alone.  

When something like this happens, we need to evaluate Assisted Living options.

Assisted living communities provide care and housing for our loved ones who need more assistance with daily care but are not yet at the level of care that is provided at nursing homes.

Assisted living communities have grown as an option for our loved ones who are still independent but require some assistance with daily living tasks.  Assisted Living communities provide social gatherings, activities, trips that are organized for the residents.

Each assisted living community provides various options and opportunities.  Having a plan to assist your evaluation of those places you visit will make this extremely import task easier.  This information gathering will provide you with invaluable informational comparisons when you sit down to look at the options and make the decision on which facility best meets the needs of your loved ones.

Nursing Home Questions To Ask

How is the assisted living facility arranged?

• Are there apartments available?  If so what are they like/number of bedrooms/baths/kitchens/laundry?
• Single rooms?
• Shared rooms?
• Do they have rooms and or bathrooms that are handicapped accessible?
• What about closet or storage space?
• Will personal items, belongings be allowed?
• Does the resident have to carry private insurance on personal belongings?
• Are pets allowed in the room?

Is there a waiting list and if so how long generally will it take to get in?

• Are meals included?
• If so are there entree choices?
• Are there daily snacks provided?  
• Can meals, if provided, be served in the room/residence if needed?
• How is the dining room set up?
• Can family members/friends join the resident for a meal?
• What about celebrating birthdays or other special occasions?

What activities are set up for the residents?

• Are there church/religious services on site or nearby?
• Are there additional costs for the activities?
• Is there a calendar of events?

What are the monthly fees?

• What forms of payment do they accept?
• Do they offer any programs to assist in coverage of the cost?
• What fees not included in the monthly resident cost?
• Housekeeping fee?
• Hair salon service fee?
• Cable and or internet fee?
• Utilities such as gas, electric or trash pickup fee?

What is the visitation schedule?

• Do relatives need to call before coming?
• Is there a limited number of visitors at one time?
• Can they have overnight guests?
• Is there a policy on sexual interaction between spouses?

Do you have health services available on-site?

• OT, PT, Dentist, Doctor, Nurse?
• Are these services available daily, weekly, monthly?

Is transportation provided?

• Is there transportation to banks, grocery stores, shopping centers, local restaurants, cafes, doctor appointments, parks?

When and if my circumstances change and I need more care do you?

• Provide transitional services within this facility?
• Provide transitional services to another facility?
• Is there a fee to leave this facility?

Staffing questions?

• What is the staff to resident ratio?
• Is there staff available overnight?
• What are the credentials of the staff?
• What ongoing training does your staff participate in?

Common space questions?

• What are the common or shared spaces with other residents?
• How wide are the hallways?
• Are there handrails for residents who need them for stability issues?
• What is the lighting in the common spaces?

What is the neighborhood like that surrounds the facility?

• Is the surrounding area taken care of?
• Is the surrounding area well lit?

What is the facilitie’s security?

• Security guard on premise?
• Front door locks?

Parking Questions?

• Is there parking for the resident?
• Is there parking for visitors?
• Is there a fee to park a vehicle?

Will there be a care plan developed for the resident?

• Who has input into the care plan?

This by no means is a comprehensive list of questions one can ask when looking into assisted living care facilities.  It will give you a base of questions that you can add your own to.

Read the fine print of any agreement you sign.  Make sure that you haven’t signed away any rights that you want to keep ahold of.  Especially be aware of the part of the contract that speaks to a liability waiver.  You can always cross it out and see what the facility says.  You can always have an elder law attorney check the contract before signing anything.