This is a Part one series to two articles. The next will be published October 19.
Now that you’ve made that difficult decision — what do you do next? How do you know what community is best for your parent? Below I’ve listed the TOP TEN THINGS to look for in an Assisted Living Community. This list is by no means the total of what to look for — but certainly will give you a start in your search. I wish I had this list when I started my search for my Mom and Dad. We will look at the first 5 tips in this article and then the last 5 on October 19. You can always go on www.lknconnectcommunity.com and track the published articles. This article was donated by Cyndi Caldwell , who specializes as a Certified Senior Advisor.y
Why? Assisted Living Communities are not nationally regulated, and in some states, don’t even need licensing. Research your state to find out what the criteria are for a licensed facility. Then do your homework to see if that community meets your standards and the standards set forth by your state.
Why? The care in an Assisted Community is often provided by C N A (certified nursing assistants) providers. You want to know who is overseeing that care, are they qualified, and are they available to your loved one and to you. Serious health care decisions are being made daily in an Assisted Living. You want the person making those decisions to have the appropriate training. Get his/her NAME and speak to them if possible. If you can find an Assisted Living Community that has a Physician relationship where there is a doctor who makes regular trips to the community or at the least has an On Call relationship is even better.
Why? Most seniors will be taking some type of medication and possibly several. You want to know how this medication is administered and who will be making sure your family member receives the proper medication (this can mean “watching” to make sure the medication is taken not leaving it by the bedside). Is the pharmacy program overseen by a registered pharmacist? It should be. If your family member has multiple physicians, they each can be prescribing lots of different medications. Do NOT depend on your regular physician to oversee the possible interactions that can occur. Make sure that all Doctors and the facility have a COMPLETE list of medications. And they review them with each hospital visit and doctor visit that involves a change in prescriptions to avoid negative drug interactions.
Why? How does your house look when you know company is coming? What about when you are caught unaware? A top Assisted Living community will be running as if company is coming every single day. Is it clean? Does it smell fresh? Is there enough staff? Don’t be afraid to just “show up” after all your parent may be living there soon. If on your visit they ask you to “come back another time when someone can give you a tour” or won’t take you through the WHOLE community that is a sign. Always ask to walk through the ENTIRE community to see how things are humming. There may be a “sample room or residence” that is set up to look like the Hilton. Ask to visit actual resident residences — 3 different ones are a good rule of thumb.
Why? These are your caregivers. The people that will be on a day-to-day basis interacting with your Mom or Dad. Are they personable? Are they neat and clean? Are they friendly and open?
Do they seem knowledgeable? This is more than a simple “hello”. Stop and inquire. “How long have you been working here?” “How long have you been a C N A?” “What is your favorite thing about working here?” “If you were the boss, what would you do to make things run more smoothly?” Speak with the staff that you PASS in the hallways — not just those that you may be introduced to. Also ask to speak to someone from food service and ask the same questions.
As a Certified Senior Advisor – Cyndi is on a mission to advise Seniors and their family members on viable options for Senior Living, Senior Care, Dementia Care and Boomer Life! Her extensive experience comes from having worked and trained with the finest providers in the industry – Bell Senior Living, Five Star Senior Care, and Seniors Helping Seniors. Retired now and enjoying the “Boomer Life” Cyndi continues to advise seniors and their families as they navigate through the process of aging.
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