10 Tips on Finding the Right Assisted Living Home

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With over 36,000 assisted living homes in the U.S., finding the right one for your loved one can be stressful and a challenge.

Here you’ll find ten solid tips on how to find the best possible home.

 

1. Cleanliness

Make sure that the facility you’re looking at is kept clean and that there aren’t any odors or smells. Check all rooms, and the cracks and corners. A localized smell is one thing, and could be attributed to a single incident, but an overall stench found everywhere is another.

 

2. Staff attentiveness

Watch the staff as they interact with residents. Are they friendly, attentive? Do they make eye contact? Make sure that they treat every single resident with care and respect, and that they enjoy being there.

 

3. Resident care

Observe the personal care and hygiene of the residents. Are they clean shaven, is their hair washed, fingernails trimmed? Poor personal hygiene suggests that the residents aren’t taken care of properly.

 

4. Staff credentials

Ask questions about the hiring and training process of the staff. Are they certified? Know CPR? Trained to deal with your loved one’s specific health issues? What certification does the facility have?

 

5. Security and safety

Ask questions about resident’s safety and security. Do all baths and toilets have handle bars at easy access? Are residents equipped with call buttons? Who’s on staff during nights? Are doors locked to prevent residents with dementia from leaving unescorted?

 

6. Understand your loved one’s needs

Make sure you fully understand the scope of your loved one’s physical, emotional, and medical needs. Do they require help administering their medication? To bathe and feed themselves? Is the facility equipped to properly address those needs?

 

7. Understand pricing and what is included

It’s important to ask questions about the facility’s pricing structure. Is it a flat rate per resident/room, or is each amenity an add on? Does it include meals, outing, activities? What about advanced medical care? Do they accept Medicare?

 

8. Socialization and activities

If possible, stick around for an activity and observe what happens. Do most of the residents participate? Are the activities varied and interesting? Do the staff seem to enjoy the activities as well? Does the facility encourage regular outings and religious activities if desired?

 

9. Try the food

Ask if you can stay and share a meal with the residents. How is the overall ambiance during mealtime? Is the food fresh, cooked to order, and prepared safely? Are the meals healthy and wholesome? Are specific health needs followed rigorously (i.e. low sodium, diabetic considerations, etc.)?

 

10. Above all, trust your instincts

Get a good feel for the place. You and your loved one will be spending a lot of time there, make sure you both feel welcome and comfortable.