By Jenny Madden
I’m sure there aren’t many people who wake up in the morning saying, “Yay, let’s go look at assisted living facilities today!” For most people, it’s a dreaded next step. Once you venture out, you’ll find there are many nice places, with beautiful features and amenities, the finest granite, amazing floor plans, and accommodations, but you need to keep this in mind: None of those things will be providing the care for you or your loved one. Those are great to have but you need to do some digging to ensure you’re making the right decision. Here are some items to consider, and questions to ask about on your visit to assisted living and memory care communities.
Aside from the obvious, does it look and smell clean and is it in a safe area? Consider the tenure of the executive director. Is there a new director every few months? Red flag. Employees need stability and tenure of staff is very important for the whole community to work together as a team with a purpose and direction. You should also meet their chef, their director of activities, and their director of resident care. How long have they been there? Those are crucial departments for you or your loved one’s experience as a whole in the new setting. Also, is there a nurse on site and how often are they on site?
The dining experience is very important. Are there choices on the menu? How often is the menu changed? Are there any choices as to when and where you or your loved one can eat? What if you are not a breakfast person or a morning person and breakfast starts promptly at 8 a.m.? Is the food good? You’ll be eating there every day, so you should like it and enjoy the overall experience.
You’re not buying a product, you’re buying a service. This is a lifestyle for you or a precious loved one, not a transaction. So make sure you do your research and don’t fall for the bait and switch. This is a move you don’t want to have to make twice.
