Choosing the Right Assisted Living Facility for Your Loved One

Assisted living facilities vary greatly in quality. When choosing the best location for your loved one, there are a number of things to evaluate. When considering a facility, visit the property in person. This will give you the most accurate information and allow you to make an educated decision. Here are the primary characteristics to look for when seeking a high-quality assisted living facility.

• Staff - A friendly, responsive staff is vital. Speak to a variety of employees to get a feel for personalities and overall attitudes of staff members. Check qualifications of the staff. Make sure that management is hiring properly trained individuals. Do not hesitate to ask about licensing and training. If they seem hesitant or unwilling to share this information, this is a red flag and you should move on to evaluate another facility.
• Activities - You do not want your loved one to become bored and depressed. It is important that a facility have plenty of activities planned for the residents. They should encourage residents to interact with one another and offer a wide variety of activities to suit the personalities of the diverse population living in the facility. Speak with an activities director if possible.
• Food - Meal preparation is a big part of most assisted living facilities. If your loved one is a picky eater, check to see that the facility offers a reasonable selection of food he or she will enjoy. In general, you want the food to look and taste good. Poor quality food is a sign of a low-quality facility. Take a look around the dining areas and have a sample if you are unsure.
• Environment - The environment should be safe and clean. Observe both the interior and exterior of the property. Is it clean? are there safety features in place ? how old is the facility? does it appear well-kept or run down?
• Visitation - Check the rules regarding visitation. A quality facility will allow family and friends to visit any time within reason. A facility with strict, highly regulated visitation is likely one to avoid. You want to be able to drop in at any time to check on your loved one and to ensure they are being cared for properly.

These are just a few tips to help you select a quality assisted living facility. This is often a tough choice for families to make and they want their loved one to be safe, happy, and healthy during their stay. There are plenty of high-quality assisted-living facilities available. It is simply a matter of doing some research and taking the time to find one that fits your needs.