Assisted Living Checklist - Questions to Ask

Before You Visit

1. Checkout the website. Who owns the community?
2. How long has it been open?
3. Who will you contact? Driving directions.
4. Is it close to your home or work?

Overall Feeling

1. What is the overall feeling? Do staff smile and greet you?
2. Does it appear clean and smell good?
3. Bring home a brochure, activity calendar, menu, Uniform Disclosure Statement and their assessment form.

Staff and Management

1. How long has the management/staff worked for this community?
2. What training does the staff receive?
3. Ask to see the last state survey/inspection report.
4. How do you see staff interacting with residents?
5. What kinds of hands-on help can residents receive from staff? At what cost?
6. What is the procedure for responding to an emergency, such as a fire? A fall?

Costs and Policies

1. Which services are included in the monthly fee? (transportation, meals, housekeeping, activities, utilities?)
2. Which services incur an extra cost? (telephone, parking, cable, pets, beauty shop, newspaper, linens?)
3. Is a security deposit required? A community/admission fee? Buy-in?
4. Is this private pay or Medicaid assisted?
5. Can residents bring their own belongings?
6. How is personal care charged? Levels of care, time?
7. What is the campus smoking policy?
8. What extra services are available on site? (footcare, massage therapy, banking, dry cleaners, cobbling, postage?)
9. Can staff arrange emergency prescription delivery?
10. Can residents age-in-place, including hospice?

Safety and Security

1. What type of security system is in place? (night watch, smoke detectors, sprinklers, video cameras, door locking, etc...)
2. Is there more than one elevator?
3. Are there off-road walking areas?

Socialization

1. What activities are scheduled for residents during the week? Weekends? Nights?
2. What amenities are on site? (Exercise room, gift shop, pool, beauty salon/barber, library, chapel, theatre room, arts and crafts room, garden area?)
3. Are most of the residents men or women? Couples or single?
4. What is the average age?
5. What is the physical and mental status of the present population?
6. What fitness programs are included? Mental activities?
7. When are the church services scheduled?

Transportation

1. Is medical transportation included? How many miles away? Which days?
2. Are there shopping trips? Bank trips? Lunch out? Other?
3. How many vehicles are in use?

Meals and Snacks

1. What are the specific meal times? What if a resident misses a meal?
2. Are tables/seating assigned?
3. Are there choices from a menu? How often does the menu change?
4. Ask residents about the meals. Do their families eat here, too?
5. See/taste the food.
6. Can food be taken from the dining room?
7. Can food be prepared in the resident’s room?
8. Is there room service? What is the charge?
9. When a resident is contagious, what is the policy?

Apartments

1. Is there sufficient closet space?
2. Is there sufficient lighting?
3. What kind of refrigerator is in the apartment? Freezer? Cooktop?
4. What other appliances may be brought in? (Coffee maker, toaster oven, microwave?)
5. How far from the dining room or activities would be preferred?
6. Are there apartments with patios?
7. Is a bedroom or studio preferred?

Availability

1. What is available in the time span that you need it?
2. Is there a waitlist?
3. What deposit will hold the apartment?
4. What are the steps to move-in? (deposit, doctor’s orders, approval, assessment, paperwork?)