Checklist for Assisted Living and Supportive Senior Housing Facilities

As I’ve written about many times, there is a confusing array of options out there when an elder needs some help. One of these options is relocating to supportive senior housing, such as an assisted living facility, but there are so many out there. How do you choose the right place? What things should I be looking for in each place I visit?

These choices can be confusing, especially if you are looking for yourself. It is easy to feel pressured into making a decision, or to feel like you are being given a cheesy sales pitch. The best you can do is to be vigilant and compare as many places as possible.

The short of it is that although there are definitely a few things to keep an eye out for, the personal tastes of the elder should be the primary concern. Think of their personal preferences in terms of privacy, food, and other personal habits. The idea is to make them as comfortable as possible in a safe and nurturing environment.

Although personal preferences are important, some aspects to look out for are universal. I’ve included some below, but as always, feel free to give me or my colleagues a call with any questions you may have at our Connections hotline (800-544-0304), or visit our Kittay House, www.kittayhouse.org

Some important things to take into consideration:

- Atmosphere: Do you like the appearance of the residence? Did you receive a warm greeting from staff members? Do the residents socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable? Are visits to the residence welcome at any time?

- Physical Features: Is the residence designed well for the elder’s needs? Is the place accommodating for wheelchairs and walkers? Are there handrails, elevators, non-skid floors? Is the natural and artificial lighting good? Is the facility clean and appropriately heated/cooled? Does the residence meet local and state licensing requirements?

- Needs Assessments, Contracts, Costs, and Finances: Are resident needs assessed and addressed with the input of family, staff, and healthcare providers? Will long-term care insurance cover any costs? Are there different costs for different levels of services, and are there additional services available if needs change?

- Medications and Health Care: Does the residence have specific policies regarding storage of medications, assistance with medications, training and supervision of staff, and record keeping? To what extent are medical services available, and how are they provided?

- Services: Can you see a list of services? Are the staff available 24-hours a day? Are housekeeping services and transportation to healthcare appointments available? Are pharmacy services and physical therapy services available on-site?

- Individual Features: Are different sizes and types of resident rooms available? Can residents lock their doors? Is there a 24-hour emergency response system in each room? Are the bathrooms private or shared, and are they equipped for the handicapped? Do residents bring their own furniture, and do all rooms have telephone and cable TV hook-ups? Is a working kitchen provided, and can the residents have food in their rooms? Can residents smoke?

- Social and Recreational Activities: Is there an organized activity program, and are these sometime outside of the residence? Do volunteers or family members participate in activities? Are residents allowed to have pets?

- Food Service: Does the residence provide two or three meals a day, seven days a week? Are snacks between meals available? Are common dining rooms available, and can a resident dine in their own room? Are residents assigned dining room seats or is it on a first come first served basis?

- Residence Directors/Managers: Was the residence director/manager friendly and informative? Did they have good communication skills? Would you enjoy dealing with the residence director/manager on a regular basis?

Recent Pages

NEED HELP NOW?

WORK WITH US

DONATE