How to Find the BEST Information About an Assisted Living Facility

October 20, 2022 by ·

There are plenty of ways to find information on just about any topic these days. With the Internet, we have information at our fingertips, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yet, not all of the information we’re exposed to is truthful.

Sometimes, we have to dig a little deeper to get the best information. When it comes to assisted living, arguably the best elder care option for men and women who want to stay active, healthy, safe, and surrounded by peers their own age, there are actually some wonderful ways to get quality information about any particular facility.

 

Online reviews.

Assisted Living Theodore, AL: Information on Assisted Living

Assisted Living Theodore, AL: Information on Assisted Living

Not all companies enjoy positive online reviews, mostly because they may not get the best ones. However, online reviews can tell you at least some information about an assisted living community you might not get from brochures.

When you focus on online reviews, though, take them all with a grain of salt. That’s because the people who leave reviews are either exceedingly thrilled, think about leaving a review, are asked by administrators or somebody connected with the business because they know that person is happy. Or they’re unhappy.

There’s rarely any middle ground. So, the focus when looking at these online reviews is to see common threads. If some complaint or issue is repeated over and over by many different people, it’s something to pay attention to.

If someone is ranting about staff or some issue, but you don’t see the problem popping up anywhere else in those reviews, then you can probably assume it was an isolated incident, maybe from somebody who had unrealistic expectations.

 

Former employees.

It’s not always easy to find former employees, especially of an assisted living facility, but if you or somebody in your family or network of friends happens to know somebody who worked at a particular facility you’re considering, that’s a wonderful person to speak to.

Keep in mind, though, that how long ago they worked there could have an impact. Some companies may take over facilities, renovate, change staff, and make drastic improvements, yet you might be speaking to somebody who worked there 10 or 15 or 20 years ago. What they have to say may have absolutely no bearing on how things operate today.

 

Ask if you can meet current residents.

When you’re taking a tour of an assisted living community, ask if you can talk to some of the residents there. Sometimes, administrators are protective of their residents not because they don’t want you speaking to them, but they want their residents to not be bombarded.

Remember, if you’re taking an in-person tour, you’re not the only one. It’s not the only tour there is. If every person taking a tour was allowed to go around and meet some of the residents, that’s not going to offer much privacy or security for the facility itself.

When you understand these three components, you should be able to find the best elder care option for you and your family moving forward.

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

Filed Under: Assisted Living · Tagged: ,
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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