Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

When choosing an Assisted Living Facility(ALF) do your homework on senior living care options so you can make a wise choice . Click the following link for my article Retirement Home Move Preparation – Basic Factors to Consider which discusses senior care options outside the home.

This article is specific to ALF's, but many of the considerations will apply to other types of care communities.

Making the Right Choice

To make the right choice of facility you will want to focus on three important issues that include quality of life, standards of care, and cost versus value. Generally, the majority of us have to strike a balance between these choices and our personal affordability.

To help you avoid compromising on the more important issues click on the following link for a: Guide to Healthcare Ratings. There are some general links followed by state listings. Many, but not all have ratings for ALF's and some include inspection reports for the facilities. The inspections cover issues like safety and quality of care and may include reports of elder abuse, if found.

For nursing home ratings check: Compare Nursing Homes

The Assisted Living Federation of America(ALFA) has created a guide called: Guide to Choosing an Assisted Living Community. Click on the guide name for a pdf file for additional information on the subject which includes a very thorough checklist to evaluate a community.

I urge you to access and read this checklist which offers valuable insight on what you should be checking for and the questions you should be asking when visiting the facilities you have selected as possible candidates. The guide also states the important services, amenities, accommodations, and care typically provided by assisted living facilities.

A good “rule” to remember when shopping for facilities is the Sights, Sounds, and Smells rule or SSS for short. SSS has to do with your first impression of the facility(both outside and inside) when you are visiting.

Your first impression can tell you a lot by paying attention to these cues. It can also pay to make random and unannounced visits at different times of the day and different days of the week.

To cover these a bit more in depth:

Sights

• Does the interior and exterior of the building look well maintained? Do the restrooms appear clean and are they absent of plumbing problems? Do other systems like the air conditioning appear to be in good operable condition?
• Is the landscape manicured?
• Are the halls, patient rooms, and other common use rooms clean?
• Do the patients and employees look happy, sad, or indifferent?
• Are you politely greeted and spoken to by the staff?
• Are the residents socializing with each other?
• Is the staff interacting well with the patients and are the patients called by their names?
• Does the staff dress appropriately?
• How is the lighting throughout the facility?
• Do you notice any hazards…tripping, falling, fire, etc.?

Sounds

• How is the noise level? Is it out of control or just a lively atmosphere?
• Are radios and TV’s blaring or at a reasonable sound level?
• Are the staff shouting or overly loud?
• Any constant clatter or noise elsewhere that might interrupt or prevent sleep?

Smells

• Can you smell urine or excrement?
• Do you smell rotting food and is the aroma from the kitchen and in the dining area pleasant?
• Do you smell any toxic, noxious, or other objectionable odors or fumes?
• Does the overall atmosphere smell pleasant as opposed to stale or stuffy?

Directories for Finding a Facility

There are many directories available to assist you in finding facilities in your area. Often they will include many care types to choose from such as assisted living, nursing homes, independent living, etc. I have listed two websites as Assisted Living Facility resources below for your convenience, but you can find many more using an internet search engine.

Find a directory that is to your liking. Enter “assisted living facilities” in the search box. Typically from the home page of these sites you must select your state or plug-in a zip code and select the care type you are searching for.

You will find that some sites are more thorough than others. Some provide additional information about the facility as opposed to just a listing with facility name, address, and type of care. Many have contact avenues such as telephone numbers and you can send emails requesting additional information or to ask for a facility brochure.

Quite often you will find the facilities have their own web sites, but the directories are a good place to start and discover these sites.

Here are the two websites mentioned above:

www.assistedlivingsource.com

www.retirementhomes.com


Other Options Important to Mention

Although this article is about choosing an Assisted Living Facility I feel it is important to cover a couple of other topics directly related to senior living care. Note that as you do further homework on this subject you may encounter other terms that refer to types of care.

Some common terms in use are: Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, Board and Care, Community Based Retirement Facilities, Personal Care, Adult Living Facilities, Adult Foster Care, Adult Homes, Congregate Care, Adult Congregate Living Care, Domiciliary Care, Supportive Care, Enhanced Care, Sheltered Housing and Elder Care Homes.

I won’t debate the meaning of each or whether each can be defined as an assisted living facility. Just beware when shopping and check on their credentials and follow the guidelines above to ascertain their true identity if one of the alternative terms is used. Note that every state has a different set of regulations governing their Assisted Living Facilities and most require some type of licensure and/or certification.

Personal Care Homes

There are other alternatives to Assisted Living Facilities. These arrangements are called personal care homes, residential homes, group homes, and they go by other names as well.

The services offered vary and they usually have fewer residents than assisted living facilities. These might be worth looking into as another option. Be sure and follow the aforementioned guidelines wherever you look.

In Home Care

In home care is also an option. A few of the more well known companies are: Cameo Caregivers, Visiting Angels, Girling Health Care, and Comfort Keepers. They all have websites.

Living in an RV

There may also be the possibility of living out of a mobile home or RV in a park setting. There is one such Assisted Living Facility near Livingston, Texas called the Lake Livingston RV Park. If this idea sounds amenable to you check in your area for similar facilities. Money from the sale of your home could be used to purchase an RV.

Remember to check a facility out thoroughly and ask pertinent questions to assess if the facility will meet your needs. Don't forget to plan for future needs as well when selecting a facility to prevent negative impact. As of my last read the Lake Livingston RV Park did not have staff available around the clock or on weekends.

I hope the advice here helps you or your loved one make a smoother transition when the time comes to choose senior living care options.

authored by Lon Britton

Assisted Living Federation of America As the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally managed assisted living communities for seniors, the Assisted Living Federation of America provides an interactive directory of professionally managed senior living communities. ALFA works to influence public policy by advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all Americans. Visit their Web site for information.

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