How do I select an assisted living facility?

First and foremost, one must keep in mind the preferences and lifestyle of the person who will live there. For example, for a private person, a facility with very little personal space and many common areas may not be appropriate, or a person with frugal leanings may be uncomfortable in a luxurious setting, even though you may be impressed with the surroundings.

When visiting senior residences, consider some of the following: ask to taste the food; be mindful of different pricing methods; ask to tour the facility when activities are at their peak; be mindful of the residence’s discharge policies (while some facilities – particularly Life Care Communities – are flexible in terms of “aging in place”, others cannot provide higher levels of care to residents as they become more frail and dependent).

Beyond judging the friendliness of staff, the overall appearance and safety/security features of the residence, some other features you may want to consider include: whether one can bring their own furniture, are there individually controlled thermostats and sufficient elevators, is there medical care on-site or on-call, and if a tenant’s health deteriorates, are there priority arrangements for long-term care?

Perhaps most importantly, engage the people who live, work, and visit the residence, as they can give you a perspective gleaned from experience.

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