5 Important Questions to Ask when Deciding on Assisted Living

March 19, 2015 by ·

Assisted Living in Theodore AL

If you or a loved one is looking at assisted living as a viable option, you may have a lot of questions. Questions are Assisted Living in Theodore ALgood. Questions help people delve into a particular topic much deeper and in more detail. If you don’t know what type of questions you should ask, below are five that can help you or your elderly loved one decide which assisted living facility is right for them.

1. Do you feel comfortable at that facility?

If you haven’t visited any facilities yet, it’s best to do this before making any decisions. Most assisted living communities have open houses or welcome potential residents to come and sit down with administrators, tour the facilities, and get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

Once you have an opportunity to visit a particular facility, ask yourself whether or not you feel comfortable in that environment. It may seem difficult to come to that assessment, but most people should be able to honestly gauge whether or not they would be feeling comfortable and confident in that particular setting.

2. What is their commitment policy?

Some facilities may require a minimal commitment of time to live there. It could be several months, a year, or longer. It’s important to understand what the minimal requirements are, especially if the senior is not completely confident regarding their decision to move into assisted living.

Many facilities today have state-of-the-art exercise equipment, wonderful restaurants, and incredible entertainment rooms. They also offer numerous activities to help residents mingle, stay active, and be surrounded by a positive environment.

3. What are there emergency protocols?

In the event of an emergency, how would they handle it? Would they try to deal with the situation in house or do they immediately rely on emergency services? When do they contact family members?

4. What is there visitation policy?

A senior who moves into an assisted living facility is likely going to have visitors from time to time. This could be friends, family members, or anyone else. It’s a good idea to understand what the visitation policy is so there are no surprises once they move in.

5. What type of furniture or personal belongings can the senior bring with them?

Finally, different facilities will have various expectations and requirements. Some will allow seniors to bring their own beds or they can provide them for their residents. They may be limited on how many items they can bring with them when moving in, including trinkets, mementos, books, and more. Make sure you understand exactly what they’re moving policies are so you can be properly prepared when the time comes to move.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Theodore, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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