9 Things to Consider in Your Search for an Assisted Living Facility

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dsaew of AL 11:27PM March 29, 2011

I didn't see a list of the highest rated facilities. I was interested in a facility in Las Vegas, NV.for a friend.

Terri Reed of NV 12:44PM March 29, 2011

It is sad that financial status dictates the choice of nursing home. It has been my experience that the less a nursing home costs, the less effective care one receives. The staff is paid less, tend to be less compassionate, and can be careless in handling patients who are bed-ridden. There are far too many incidences where the elderly are mistreated in these sub-standard facilities. There has to be an intervention which will encourage respect and compassionate even if the resident is not wealthy. I would rather get hit by a car and die on the street than need to go to a nursing home. I know I will never be able to afford an upscale nursing or assisted living facility. So I would rather die before I need one.

Lo of TX 11:06AM March 29, 2011

When you said assisted living might not be an option due to cost,you gave the assisted living cost of $34,000 per yr. and nursing homes as $74,000 per yr. This was in article about 9 things to look for in assisted living search. Or do I need another eye exam :) Thanks

Beverly of AZ 4:51AM March 29, 2011

I think the growth in this industry has been one of the best developments in our society in recent years. People are living longer, yet many are unable to live on their own due either to physical or mental deterioration. Families are sometimes unable or unwilling to take on full-time responsibility for the elderly family members, so this provides a needed service. When my mother developed the beginning of Alzheimer's, I was working plus had a 6 year-old boy at home in addition to a number of grown children. My mother was used to living in a neat, quiet atmosphere, not one with an active little boy, his friends and his toys scattered everywhere. I was stressed trying to care for both ends of the spectrum, plus keeping my job and marriage alive and well. Her move to a nearby high-quality assisted care facility saved the day and proved to be a happy solution for all of us. We're now facing a similar situation with my husband's mother who was recently widowed, and we are glad there are so many choices available to us where she can get the assistance she needs yet remain as independent and active as she desires to be. The management and staff make all the difference, and we're fortunate in the Dallas area to have a growing number of well-run, caring facilities.

Sharon Ward of TX 3:20AM March 29, 2011

Besides the obvious, how the place smells.
Is it light and bright and cheery?
Do not take the “Tour” save that for after you have an idea if you like the place.
Go in and walk it yourself, talk with individuals who have family members there
See what they have to say. Good and Bad. Staffing, Food, Consistency of Care Providers, Turn Over. And an Open Door Policy, where you are able to come and go day or night, no problem.
Does the Staff seem knowledgeable and eager when asked a question or a concern, or do they get defensive? Do they dress in a professional and appropriate manner, well groomed, clean, and shaved and take a peek at their fingernails. The manner of dress, does it look professional or like they just went fishing. Levi’s and Tee shirts are tacky, in this setting. Do they have an easy smile, if it’s more forced or a grimace probably need to check out another Facility. Lunch time is another great time to view what’s really going on, are people eating or just sitting there with a plate of food stuck in front of them. Look in the rooms; look at the individuals in their wheelchairs. Do they look comfortable?
These places are charging big bucks, and your loved one deserves respect and great care. Is Staff visible, and working or are they just sitting. Most facilities probably all have lights to alert staff they need help. So look for those lights, are they lit up, up and down the hall, bad sign. Staff is either slacking or they are understaffed. Alarm’s going off; someone should either be in the room or headed in that direction. If not, wait around and see how long it takes them to answer. You can find a place that you and your loved one feel comfortable and safe at. Weather that be short or long term.
One last thing, do you notice interaction with the individuals or is the TV the babysitter?

Cathy Anderson of WA 2:38AM March 29, 2011

Sometimes there is a disconnect between the social services staff and nursing. Before you go off and spend lots of time visiting many AL homes, be sure you know what criteria is best recommended by medical staff who know your loved one's needs. Social services gives lots of great info on the availabilities of the AL home, but until the nursing assessment is done at the home of your choosing, you may find that they cannot accomodate the needs of your family member medically. Many AL homes only staff nurses for a 40 hour weekday work week. Often your family member needs more than this, perhaps even 24 hour nursing care, which is much more difficult to find in AL homes.

Carol Burk of MN 4:53PM February 09, 2011

Appropriate inclusions for those seeking care for their loved ones.
Highly recommend include a paragraph explaining the major limitation: THERE ARE NO NURSES available around the clock in many of the assisted living; many states have no regulations re: professional nurse care practices likely needed in these environments. Such practices are either not provided or loosely accomplished by non-licensed &/or non-professionals who, by law, need to be directly supervised by an RN but such regulation is not a part of assisted living facilities.
This is the 'cost saving' measure which makes such havens for profit making entities.

W. M. Moeller of MA 7:55PM February 08, 2011

I am thinking about performing a reverse mobile phone search by going on the internet. I'm receiving all of these cell phone calls by someone that I really don't know and am interested who believe that they're dialing. All sorts of crazy texts and messages are being left on my voice mail and it is starting to drive me nuts. And so, exactly where do I locate these reverse phone search services?

Free Cell Lookup of AL 8:32AM January 29, 2011

My mother is 95 and housed in Redwood Springs Healthcare Clinic (Visalia Nursing & Rehab) owned by Plum Healthcare in California. She does not get hot meals every day, at least twice sometimes three times a week she gets a cold sandwich, with cold macaroni salad, or oven baked "Tator Tots" which are hard for her to eat. I am somewhat mystified about this because they just spent $100,000.00 on Christmas decorations (at least that is what they are admitting to). They cannot afford to feed these old people decent food and they need outside lighting for the parking lot to protect the rest of us. The employees were required to park in a muddy lot next door and wade through the mud to get to work. The parking lot was being used for the Christmas event and visitors had to park in the East parking lot, where employees usually parked. The residents were confined to their rooms and not allowed to come out. They do not have enough face cloths and usually there are none in the linen closet. I have looked for some to wash mom’s face. Most nights she does not have a pad on her bed, usually it is just a draw sheet, if she has an accident at night, the bedding will be wet. The mattress on her bed is short, but so is she. Her clothes disappear and sometimes never found. I wash her clothes every other day and return them for her. If I had it to do over again, I would have her in a different nursing home here. Since I have been inside this nursing home, I see what it really is. Would a different one be better? I don't know. Would they be lacking as much? Probably. She is showered twice a week and bed linens are changed then. She gets three meals a day, but as I said, at least twice or three times a week, she gets a cold sandwich at night. She didn’t raise me this way. Sometimes the food is not edible and she refuses to eat. Would you like to eat a cold beet and cucumber salad? Sometimes they have shredded meat (usually pork) mixed with spaghetti and call it chow mein, or some kind of ravioli that is more pasta than cheese (no meat) and call it food. It is atrocious, but they always have a “cute” name for it. I can see why they give them cold sandwiches. These are just the meals that I know about. I have been there every night since she has been there just to make sure she eats and goes to bed safely. I have not missed one night with her. I only want her safe, warm and fed. Is this what Medicare and Medi-Cal are paying for? She has secondary insurance which is suppose to pay for extras, but Pauline at Redwood Springs is denying it’s use and is trying to add more. Could I have checked better? Probably. I didn’t know where to look. I am responsible for her and I have failed her. I wish that I had put her in Westgate, at least her doctor would be in the same city. Now her doctor is in Fresno and I don't know if she has even seen mom. I know that she prescribes medications for her usually to increase charges.
I DIDN'T KNOW BUT NOW I WISH I HAD BEEN BETTER INFORMED

Martha Moore of CA 12:07AM January 03, 2011