Questions to ask when choosing a senior assisted living community
When choosing a senior living community, there’s a lot more to consider than apartment floorplans and community amenities.
Today’s senior living options often include a variety of enriching programs, security measures, community outreach opportunites and maintenance services that do much more than just “covering the basics.” With so many options to consider, the process of finding the “right fit” may start to feel overwhelming – after all, what separates great senior living from the best senior living?
Getting started: what type of community do you need?
Before you even start setting up tours, you’ve probably spent some time researching different communities. While reviewing your options, you’ll want to make sure you’re considering communities that support a lifestyle and care level that benefits your loved one. For example, if you’re looking for specialized services for a loved one with memory loss, a community only offering assistance with daily living activities may not be enough.
- What living options are available at the community?
- How are individual care plans handled before move-in? Continually?
- What options do residents have for managing aspects of their own care?
- Are licensed staff always available? What type of training do staff get for the residence they work in?
Narrowing it down: what accommodations do you want?
Once you’ve decided what level of care you’re looking for, you’ll want to make sure the communities you’re focusing on have activities your loved one will take advantage of. While the clown and mime classes at one assisted living community sound riveting, it might not appeal to a family member terrified of clowns. At the same time, don’t exclude a community because of just one program – consider the variety of options and the overall initiative or niche at the community and how that can support your loved one’s complete wellness.
- What services and amenities are included in the monthly rent?
- What are the most popular events or activities at the community?
- Is the community located near desirable points of interest?
- What safety and security measures does the community have in place?
Making informed decisions: what should you look for during your tour?
Once you’ve landed on a few options, you’ll want to arrange a tour at each community. Seriously, see it for yourself. Are the staff as friendly in person as they are on the phone? Are residents as happy at their weekly yoga class as they are in the brochure? And it’s not just about making sure you’re getting what’s advertised, but double checking that basic needs are being met and the building meets your expectations.
- Apart from your tour guide, what are staff doing? Do they seem engaged with residents and related work?
- Do residents seem well taken care of? Are they dressed appropriately for the weather, are they groomed?
- Are communal areas clean, organized and easy to navigate?
- Is there an activity going on? How many people are attending?
Our tips:
Know the answers you want – or expect — before you even ask
When you ask a question or start reviewing the quality of a community, know what you’re looking for. There’s nothing wrong with having some expectations for the quality of care your loved one receives. When you call a community advertising state-of-the-art memory care programs, you can expect they’ll be able to go into detail about it without skipping a beat.
Be specific, especially if the community has specialized programs
Some communities offer “wellness” or “fitness” programs, but not much to say about them. Instead of asking a broad question, like “How does your community support an active lifestyle?” ask staff members to give specific examples: “What are some of your recent fitness classes this month? My mom loves Tai Chi, is that something you offer here?”
Visit more than once and follow up if you need to know more
One visit isn’t always enough to get a full understanding of the day-to-day life of residents and how they interact with staff. Taking more than one tour and attending an event at the community gives you a chance to connect with staff and get candid interactions with current residents.
