July 2005
| Twelve steps to finding the right place Many consumers start the difficult search for an assisted-living facility in the midst of a crisis--when a spouse or parent has been injured in a fall, for example. You should start learning about assisted living and other services when you notice a senior showing some signs of decline, recommends Karen Love, founder and chairwoman of the Consumer Consortium for Assisted Living, an advocacy group in Falls Church, Va. Deciding early can be crucial because better residences often have long waiting lists. According to assisted-care experts, regulators, and residents’ children, here are the steps you should take. 1. Create a list of possibles. To find facilities, contact the local Area Agency on Aging office. The national Eldercare Locator can lead you to yours (800-677-1116, or www.eldercare.gov). Try for a list of seven to eight facilities of varying size. 2. Call your state’s long-term-care ombudsman. Ask whether there have been complaints about facilities on your list and how to obtain inspection reports, if there are any. 3. Meet with a geriatric-care manager. These pros are social workers, nurses, or gerontologists who can tell you about the facilities you’ve selected and how well they match your relative’s needs. For an initial assessment, expect to pay $300 to $800; subsequent hour-long sessions cost $100 to $150. Names are available on the Web site of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (www.caremanager.org). 4. Tour the top four or five choices. Don’t get carried away by the “chandelier effect”--the appeal of expensive-looking furnishings. Look instead for senior-friendly furniture: armchairs that are sturdy yet light enough to be maneuvered, with wheels on front legs for mobility. Check for grab bars in bathrooms and along hallways and nonskid flooring in baths. And view occupied rooms--you’ll be able to tell how thoroughly the staff cleans. 5. Request the documents you need to help you make a decision. See Big 10 providers. 6. Talk to the residents. Ask how they like the food, the staff, and the activities, what they like and don’t like, and whether they are satisfied with the handling of complaints. Ask visiting relatives the same questions. 7. Observe what people are doing. Are they up and about or passively watching TV? 8. Ask to meet with the administrator. The person in charge should care about those in his or her charge and also have the ability to run the facility efficiently. 9. Study the staff. Ask how many employees are in the building during the day and in the evening. Find out about their training to see whether it corresponds to the needs of the prospective resident. Ask any residents who are sitting unattended whether they are waiting for help. Note the degree to which attendants talk to or spend time with residents. 10. Visit unannounced. Stop by the facility two or three more times when the staff is not expecting you so that you can speak with residents without someone looking over your shoulder. Plan each stop at different times of day on different days of the week to see how many staff members are on duty. 11. If you are shopping for a relative, bring him or her on your visits. Stay for a meal and an activity and taste the food. Consider having your relative stay overnight as a tryout. 12. Monitor the care. After a relative moves into assisted living, visit often to make sure there are no problems. Your family member’s health may deteriorate, so you have to be honest with yourself and with him or her when it’s time to move to a nursing home. A geriatric-care manager can help with the decision. |
