Searching for an assisted living community can be challenging, but knowing the right questions to ask can help. 

Think for a moment about what you are looking for:  a social retirement community, senior care, a rental property.  This is a unique combination of needs and services to combine into one package.  Odds are, you’re “shopping” for this product for the first time in your life, and you may not know where to start. Finally, every Assisted Living community is unique, with its own personality, culture, care and offerings.  I like to say, “Once you’ve seen one assisted living, you’ve seen one assisted living.”  With so much to sort through, where do you begin?

As this post is the first in a series about “The Right Questions,” I’d like to start with the two I advise anyone caring for parents to consider at the outset.

Is the elder appropriate for any assisted living?

Though this first question may seem obvious, the answer sometimes is not. In the state of Massachusetts, for example, there are several guidelines handed down by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs that define whether or not someone is  appropriate for assisted living.  These include the following:

1)     Ambulation status: a resident must be able to walk independently, with or without an assistive device;

2)     Medical status: a resident must be independent enough to live in a social model of care that does not provide 24/7 medical supervision;

3)     Behavioral challenges: a resident must be able to function without constant redirection from staff;

4)     Self-care: a resident must be able to participate in ”tasks of daily living” such as dressing and grooming such that only one caregiver is needed;  and,

5)     Nutrition/eating: a resident must be able to eat independently.

Once you determine that assisted living as model of care is appropriate, I advise the search for a specific community to begin with the following question.

Is this community equipped to serve my family member over the long term?

As much as we would wish it otherwise, the aging process is unpredictable. In our search for immediate solutions, it’s easy to overlook this reality in favor of what might be only a temporary resolution.

If a resident develops challenges in any of the above areas, what is the policy of the community?  Does the assisted living offer an option of more care for an additional fee?  Does the care come from the community’s staff or from an outside agency?  And if it is no longer appropriate for the resident to live in assisted living, are there other levels of care provided by the organization, preferably on the same site.  These may include Alzheimer’s and other dementia care, nursing home care, and options for additional private help.

The national average for staying in assisted living is currently 24 months. 
Educated consumers are realizing more and more that assisted living communities offering a full continuum of care options are a wise investment in their parents future care needs.