When it’s time to begin discussions with your loved one about moving into an assisted living facility, it may help if you have done some research about the local facilities in your area.
Evaluating the local assisted living facilities can help you determine which ones would best meet your loved one’s needs as well as which are the most reputable, best reviewed, and offer the most helpful amenities. You and your loved one will have many factors to consider and many choices to make.
Here is a simple guide to evaluating the quality of the assisted living facilities in Southern Arizona.
Have an Open Discussion With Your Loved One About Their Needs
Start your search for an assisted living facility by having an open discussion with your loved one about their needs. Discuss their finances, health insurance, and plans for their current home. Ask them about their health and their everyday routine and lifestyle.
Get a clear sense of what your loved one will need help with on a day-to-day basis, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and what their abilities are. You may need to look into a specialized facility, such as one that offers Alzheimer’s care, memory care, or nursing care.
Ask a Professional for Their Opinion of Local Assisted Living Homes
Next, ask a professional to recommend the best local assisted living homes in your area. You can ask your loved one’s physician, an elder care expert, their caregiver, or a social worker for recommendations.
Review Amenities and Floor Plans
Once you have identified the reputable facilities in your area, look at their websites. Review each facility’s list of features, amenities, and floor plans and see how they align with your loved one’s needs.
Determine which facilities offer amenities like fitness centers or gyms, pools, outdoor areas, dog parks, walking trails, movie theaters, lounges, and worship centers. Find out which ones offer classes, social events, outings, clubs and groups, and other activities.
Consider How Each Facility Meets Your Loved One’s Preferences
Consider how each facility meets your loved one’s preferences. Help your loved one make lists of features or amenities that they consider “must haves,” “needs,” “wants,” and “willing to compromise.”
Read Reviews
Read online reviews or testimonials for each facility. Read reviews from residents, former residents, visitors, employees, former employees, or family members of residents.
Look for red flags like allegations of abuse, financial discrepancies or fraudulent billing practices, neglect, lack of maintenance, unsafe living conditions, and other major issues. Also look out for reviews that claim the staff is poorly trained, unfriendly, unhelpful, or unkind.
Look Up Each Facility’s License or History
Not all states require assisted living facilities to be licensed. Find out what agency or department regulates or oversees the assisted living facilities in your state, and see if they have any complaints or violations listed for any of the facilities you’re considering.
If your state doesn’t regulate assisted living facilities, find out if any of them are accredited or have undergone any recent inspections or audits.
Ask Questions
Write down a list of questions to ask before you visit each facility. You will want to have a meeting with the residence manager or someone else who is in charge of the facility and patient care.
They should make themselves available and be willing and able to answer any questions you have. If you feel you can’t communicate with them easily, they aren’t forthcoming with information or can’t answer your questions, or if they don’t seem willing to make the time to speak with you, the facility may not be reputable.
Schedule a Tour
While touring each facility, take notes or record your observations for each one. Here are some things you should take note of on your tours:
- How clean and well-maintained does the facility look? Do you notice things like overflowing trash cans, spills, clutter, burnt out light bulbs, damaged flooring, dirty dishes, or other troubling signs of poor maintenance?
- Assess the security of each facility. Do you see any broken doors or windows, missing smoke detectors or fire extinguishers, or other red flags? Is there an alarm system and/or security guards on duty? Is the place well-lit with clearly marked exits and an emergency evacuation plan?
- Do the residents look clean, healthy, and content? If they are having trouble moving or walking, is a staff member offering them assistance?
- Does the staff seem happy, welcoming, friendly, and ready to help? Are they knowledgeable about the facility rules, amenities, and other details? Do they greet residents and visitors warmly?
- Are there common areas inside and outside where residents and visitors can relax and socialize? Are these areas clean, well-lit, and well-maintained?
- Is the facility easy to navigate with good lighting, clear signage, and easy-to-read maps? If there are stairs, do they have handrails? If there are elevators, are they wide enough for a wheelchair to fit? Are the walkways free from clutter and trip and fall hazards? Are walkways clean and well-maintained?
- If pets are allowed, are there clearly marked outdoor areas where pets can get exercise and relieve themselves?
- Are the residences, apartments, or suites clean and well-maintained? Is all lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, appliances, and other amenities and features functional and well-maintained? Do door and window locks work? Are there smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors installed? Do toilets and showers have grab bars?
Discuss Fee Structures and Payment Plans
Find out what the monthly rent, fees, and other charges are for each facility. Find out how and when these fees are charged, and how payment must be made. Some facilities require residents to pay quarterly, while others accept monthly payments.
You will also want to find out what services are included in monthly rent and fees. For instance, your loved one may need to pay extra for certain amenities like the gym, transportation, meals, activities, classes, laundry service, and housekeeping.
Find Out What Your Loved One’s Insurance Covers
Your loved one’s insurance may cover some portion of the cost of their assisted living facility. If you’re having trouble finding out what is covered and what isn’t, it may help to speak with an attorney, financial advisor, or insurance or Medicare specialist.
Discuss your loved one’s finances and find out if they have money in a pension fund or retirement fund that can cover some of the monthly costs.
Review the Contracts or Agreements Carefully
Finally, review each facility’s contract or agreement carefully. Make sure you fully understand what is included in the monthly rent, fees, and costs and that it is clearly outlined in the contract. Pay attention to due dates and late fees. If possible, have an elder law attorney or other expert review the contract.
Schedule a Consultation for Assisted Living Placement Services
At Placita In Home Care, we offer free guidance and resources to help you and your family choose the right assisted living facility for your loved one.
Our assisted living placement services will guide you through the process of assessing your family’s finances, your loved one’s care needs, and the reliability and reputation of assisted living facilities in your area.
We can also help you apply for aid through the Care Bridge Foundation, a nonprofit agency that provides financial assistance to cover the cost of assisted living or in-home care while you wait for a Medicaid application to be approved.
To schedule a consultation for assisted living placement services in Southern Arizona, call us today or fill out our contact form online.