If you care for your loved one at home, you might have mixed feelings about transitioning them to an assisted living community. You might wonder whether the staff will care for your loved one with as much thoughtfulness as you or whether your loved one will enjoy the environment. As you begin your search and start touring potential communities, it’s important to ask an array of questions. The answers you receive will help you compare providers and find the right community for your loved one.
Ask questions when touring assisted living communities
You may think you have all the information you need from prospective communities – and they’ll provide you with plenty. However, you should still ask questions, even if you think you’ve gotten clear answers already. When you ask more detailed questions:
- You can get a more tailored answer specific to your loved one’s needs.
- You get a chance to interact with the staff and get a sense of the community’s culture.
- You can find out whether the community caters to your loved one’s unique needs and priorities.
How will this help me compare assisted living communities?
Details can be very important when discussing care. For instance, many communities may offer assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), but that may look different across communities. Some communities may take responsibility for administering all medications, while others may only offer medication reminders.
As a caregiver, you know your loved one’s capabilities and how much help they need. Make sure that your top communities meet those needs to your satisfaction.
Who should you direct your questions to when touring an assisted living community?
It’s likely that the community’s director will lead your tour, and they may even introduce you to different members of the staff or encourage you interact with current residents. If you know you’ll want to ask more specific questions of a particular staff member, like the on-site physical therapist, activity director, or cook, let the director know ahead of time. That way, the person you want to speak with can be available to answer your questions.
You may have a chance to ask residents about the community as well, however, be respectful of their time. If you let the community director know ahead of time that you’d like a resident’s perspective, they might be able to direct you to residents who have similar interests to your loved one. This also gives the residents a better chance to prepare for your visit.
What to ask assisted living communities: 11 sample questions for assisted living interviews
Although you may add to this list depending on your loved one’s care needs and lifestyle preferences, these questions are a good starting point for your tour.
1) What does a typical resident’s day look like?
While most communities have some structure to their day, some are more lax than others with schedules. You might find out, for instance, what activities are held at certain times of the day or how much flexibility your loved one will have with their meal schedules. If your loved one finds comfort in a predictable routine, this may be particularly important.
2) Do you have staff available 24 hours a day?
Assisted living communities typically have staff available 24 hours a day, but this can look different for each community. For instance, there may be a reduced staff presence at night since many residents will sleep through without needing assistance. Or, if the community advertises a registered nurse on-site, the nurse may only be available during certain hours of the day. Ask about the level of care available throughout the day according to your loved one’s needs.
3) What are the levels of care and how is a resident’s level of care determined?
Many assisted living communities use a tiered care model which also affects the cost of care. It’s typical for someone in the community to conduct an assessment of your loved one’s needs before they move in. This assessment allows staff in the community to develop a personalized care plan for each resident. You’ll also want to ask how often care plans are reassessed, so your loved one’s needs continue to be met.
4) How are caregivers trained, and do they receive any continuing education?
You may have previously hired an in-home caregiver for respite services or ongoing care. Just as you inquired about their training and qualifications, you’ll want to find out about the caregivers in the community. What steps does the assisted living community take to keep their caregivers up to date on the best care practices?
5) What services and amenities are included in the base cost of the community?
Many communities include a full social calendar, meals, housekeeping, excursions, and more as a part of their basic services and amenities packages. But, some communities provide additional services at an extra cost. For instance, housekeeping may not include laundry but it may be added on as an additional service. This is also a good opportunity to ask any clarifying questions you might have about the community’s pricing model and costs.
6) What health care is available for your loved one’s medical conditions?
Many seniors have health conditions that require specialized medical care, like diabetes or Parkinson’s. It’s best to ask how the community cares for residents with your loved one’s medical diagnosis, so you can decide if it will be a good fit.
7) How does the community accommodate special diets?
With diet affecting many medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, it’s important to find out how a potential community accommodates special diets. You might even call in advance and ask to sample a meal or see a menu to get a feel for what the range of options include.
8) What activities are available on-site?
You may want to ask about specific hobbies that you know are important to your loved one. For men, this might mean a poker night. If your loved one is religious, see if the community offers opportunities for worship services. Anything that will keep your elderly loved one engaged and connected with others in the community is a plus. Also, you might ask if the community offers a resident council or if residents get opportunities to provide feedback on the activities.
9) What is the move-in process like, and how are residents welcomed into the community?
You’ll want your loved one to have a smooth transition into a senior living community. See if the community does anything to help with this transition and make new residents feel at home and comfortable. Will your loved one have a chance to meet the caregivers they’ll work with regularly? Does the facility make an effort to introduce new residents to others in the community?
10) How can family members continue to support their loved ones after a move?
If you still want to take an active role in supporting your loved one, most communities give you many ways to remain involved. Since most personal care duties are covered by the caregiving staff, this gives you more time to participate in fun activities with your loved one. Find out if family members are welcome at meals or social events. You may also want to ask about visiting policies, including overnight stays.
11) Do the rooms meet your loved one’s needs?
It’s important to tailor this question to your loved one’s preferences since many communities have a range of floor plans. An assisted living community can have anything from studios and semi-private suites to two-bedroom apartments and condos. Find out how many rooms are available in your loved one’s desired floor plan as well as how often those rooms become available if it’s not an option right now.
Making a decision: next steps
Try to tour a few assisted living communities before making a decision. In order to easily compare community features, you can print out this helpful touring checklist for each assisted living facility you visit. This will make it easy to see how communities compare to your most important conditions.
After a tour, feel free to follow up with communities by phone or email. As you speak more with your loved one about what’s most important to them in a community, one or both of you will likely have specific questions you’ll want to follow up on. Plus, this gives the community another chance to show what life will be like there. It will also help you see how quickly they respond to phone calls and emails.
With many assisted living communities, it can be difficult to find out which one will be the best fit for your loved one. In such cases, consider reaching out to a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom, AgingCare’s parent company. They know the ins and outs of the industry and can help you find local solutions tailored to your loved one’s specific needs and preferences. They can save you the time and effort of researching dozens of communities, all at no cost to you.