How to Choose The Right Senior Living Community
How To Choose an Assisted Living Community
When choosing an Assisted Living community, it’s important for the transition to be as smooth as possible. This means doing your homework on the front end, taking tours, and asking lots of questions. By considering key factors that may impact your long-term satisfaction, you are helping to ensure a happy beginning to a new phase of life, one filled with just the right amount of care and independence along with companionship, security and peace of mind.
A good first impression is key. When visiting an assisted living community, you should be greeted immediately and made to feel right at home. A detailed tour and community informational packet should be part of your visit. Ask to observe resident activities, try the food, and talk with both the residents and staff. Be sure to examine the overall community inside and out. You may consider popping in for an unannounced visit.
Follow the suggestions below to help you find the community that is best for you.
Looking for an Alzheimer’s Memory Care Community?
Here are some helpful tips to consider during your visit:
- Ensure the assisted living community offers all the Assisted Living you need immediately and are likely to need in the future.
- Pay close attention to the overall design and appeal of the community. Is it one floor? Is it inviting and well-maintained?
- Ask to see a model apartment and see an available one that is ready for move-in. Check if carpets, paint, and wallpaper are updated and clean.
- Check the landscaping and interior décor to see if they are fresh and inviting.
- What is the food like? Ask to see a menu or stay for lunch. It should offer various changing entrées and fresh fruits and vegetables. Is there dietician oversight? Are there plenty of options?
- How easy is it to access the dining room?
- Pay close attention to the staff. They should be friendly, smiling, well-groomed, diligent, eager to exceed expectations and deliver service and care to the residents.
- Ask about the caregiver-to-resident ratio and if there is a nurse on duty or on-call 24/7?
- Make time to talk with the residents and ask how long they have lived in the community.
- What do they like about living in the community?
- Check the appearance and upkeep of the public restrooms; this is a good marker of overall standards.
- Ask to see the current monthly activity calendar of events.
- Ask to see the latest state survey results.
