The 3 Keys to Choosing the Right Assisted Living Community
Tips before starting your search
As you are considering assisted living for yourself or a parent or loved one, you’ll be researching the assisted living communities in your area. And you are very likely to be happily surprised with what you discover. To begin looking into the positive and enjoyable aspects of assisted living communities near you, here are a few helpful tips in addition to visiting websites:
- Talk to senior peers and family friends who have already made the move to assisted living.
- Talk to other adult children whose parents have recently moved to a senior living community.
- Consult trusted professionals such as ministers, priests, rabbis or local senior support organizations.
How to find the right assisted living community for your needs
The search for the right assisted living community, the one that will feel like “home” and fit your budget and geographical desires, can seem daunting at first. You’ll need to do some research and get a good sense of what the community is really like—not just what the advertising materials say about it.
The process needn’t be intimidating or overwhelming, however. It can be broken down into three manageable and simple steps to follow that will help you narrow down all the options to find the ideal community for you. Step one is research online and by phone. In step two, you’ll take tours of communities that sound most promising to see how they look and “feel” in person. For step three, you’ll follow up with the communities you like the best to get more in-depth information and begin the initial processes of a move.
The following checklists will help you stay organized and simplify this important process and life-enhancing decision.
1. Assisted living research checklist
Online research
Online research is ideal for learning about assisted living communities near you or your loved one. To consider:
- Is the location close to shops, doctors’ offices, a hospital, a pharmacy and other important places?
- Is the location convenient for family and friends to visit?
- If the community is not in your town, are there hotels nearby for when you visit the area?
- What are others saying about this community in online reviews by respected sources?
Phone research
The first time you speak to community representatives on the phone, find out if they are currently accepting new residents. If not, ask about a waiting list. Families often put their names on waiting lists at several communities, so a wait may be shorter than it appears. Pricing for assisted living can vary significan
2. Assisted living tour checklists
When touring communities, experts advise listening to your gut instincts. A beautiful new community may not be as warm and friendly as a more established one. Going for a visit — or several — can help you determine whether the community will be right for you. If you’re an adult child, it may be worthwhile to do some advance legwork for your parent and tour several communities before bringing Mom or Dad to see the two or three you think might be best.
Arriving at the community
- Is the community quiet and pleasant?
- Is there easy parking, including handicapped spaces?
- Are buildings clean, landscaped and attractive?
- Is there a safe, enclosed area where residents can walk and socialize?
- Are the staff welcoming and friendly and do they pay special attention to the prospective resident’s questions and wishes?
Community tour
Common spaces:
- Are community common areas welcoming, pleasant and appealing?
- How many rooms are there where the residents can spend time with each other and with visiting family members?
- Is everything well-lit and easy to navigate with handrails for safety and plenty of room for wheelchairs?
- Are pets allowed? And are there shared pets in the community?
- Are there plants, and do they look well cared for?
Residents’ living spaces:
- What kinds of residences are available?
- Does each suite have a private, handicapped equipped bathroom?
- Are residents’ suites personalized with photos, mementos, or decor?
- Is there adequate closet and storage space? Is the lighting good? Are there nice views?
Food and nutrition:
- Ask to see a menu for the week. Are dining rooms clean and attractive? Are residents socializing and enjoying meal times?
- How many meals per day are provided? Is food fresh and nutritious?
- Are snacks available to residents?
- Can specific dietary needs or special requests be accommodated?
- Can residents have food in their suites—are there kitchens or kitchenettes?
- Can family members join the residents for meals?
- Can you either taste the food or stay for a meal?
- Is there a private room available for family celebrations or dinners?
Activities and programs:
- Is there a posted, varied schedule of activities, and are there any activities that you think would appeal to you?
- Are there workshops, arts and crafts areas, hobby clubs and other easily accessed activities and programs that mesh with your interests?
- Do the residents have scheduled interactions with the outside local community, whether because volunteers come into the community or residents go on regular shopping, cultural or pleasure outings?
3. Assisted living follow-up checklist
For any community where the initial visit was positive, here’s how to follow up:
Surprise visit
Pop in for an unannounced visit in the next week or so, potentially in the evenings or on a weekend. If everything looks just as pleasant as it did during the tour, that’s good. If the atmosphere is completely different, it might be worth reconsidering. If the staff won’t let you in other than during a tour, it may be a signal that you should look elsewhere.
Documents to request
It’s a good idea to get as many of the following documents as possible. They can help you compare the fine details of one community versus another.
- Sample admission contract
- A copy of the Resident Bill of Rights
- A copy of the most recent survey results from state regulatory inspectors
- A recent list of weekly activities and events
- A recent weekly menu of meals and snacks
