Choosing the right assisted living community is a challenging task. Whether you are searching for yourself, a family member or a friend, make sure that the assisted living community is able to meet the physical and safety needs of the prospective resident.
Assisted living communities offer personal services, 24-hour supervision and assistance, along with diverse and engaging activities and health-related services. Assisted living is designed to minimize the need to move; accommodate an individual's needs and preferences; maximize an individual's dignity, privacy, independence, choice and safety; and encourage family and community involvement.
The first step in identifying a compatible assisted living community is to identify several assisted living communities that are conveniently located in the area of your choice. Visit each facility and talk with the manager and staff about the services, policies, history, and amenities. Use the following questions as a guide.
Questions to ask before choosing assisted living services
About the organization
Does the assisted living community have a written description of its services and fees? Will an admission contract be used? If so, does the admission agreement describe the service package (room, board, supervision, personal care, etc.) and prices? Does the community strive to maintain resident autonomy and independence?
Does the assisted living community conduct a preliminary evaluation of the types of services the resident needs? Are family members or appropriate health care professionals involved in this evaluation?
Does the community create a service plan for each new resident? The service plan should include details about the services to be provided, the frequency of service and the period of time over which service will be provided. The service plan should be updated as the resident's needs change. Ask if you can review a sample service plan.
Does the organization coordinate all health care services for its residents?
Does the assisted living community explain the resident's rights and responsibilities? Ask to see a copy of the rights and responsibilities information.
Individual and family concerns
Is the environment comforting? Are there activity programs? Are there opportunities to attend religious services?
Is there sufficient variety in the menu to address individual food preferences and needs? Can food be brought in from outside?
Is 24-hour supervision or assistance available if needed? Are health-related services and trained staff available should the resident need them? What happens if the resident needs nursing care? What are the costs?
As the resident's needs change, how is the decision made whether he or she will be able to continue living in the community?
Does the organization have a resident council? A resident council meets regularly to talk about the care and services provided and ways to improve them. If there is a resident council, how often are the meetings? How does management deal with suggestions from the resident council, families and residents?
Is there a newsletter, website or other regular communication that is available to residents and their families? Ask to see a sample.
Quality
Does the assisted living community ensure that its health care professionals are qualified to offer the services the resident needs?
Does the assisted living community have a quality improvement program?
What is the procedure for receiving and resolving resident complaints?
Does the community have an emergency plan in case of a power failure or a natural disaster? Ask to see a copy of the plan. In case of an emergency, you need to know that the community can deliver services to the residents.
Is the assisted living community accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body such as the Joint Commission? Communities voluntarily seek accreditation through the Joint Commission as evidence of their commitment to providing quality care.
To find out if the assisted living facility you are considering is accredited by the Joint Commission, see Quality Check® on this website. Quality Check is a comprehensive listing of all Joint Commission accredited health care organizations and programs.
Quality Check provides Quality Reports that include information on the organization's overall performance level and how it compares to other organizations nationwide and statewide in specific performance areas. If a report is not available on Quality Check, or if you would like a printed copy, please call the Customer Service Center, (630) 792-5800.
To report information or concerns about accredited organizations: