For many seniors and their family members, making the transition from living independently to a senior living community, whether it’s independent living, assisted living, or memory care, can be not only challenging emotionally but daunting as well. With so many available choices, each offering a wide range of care options, community cultures, and amenities, knowing the right questions to ask and the things to look out for can be hard to keep track of. This can be especially true for those who are new to the world of senior living. Fortunately, at Senior Living Specialists of California, we’ve personally toured over 120 senior living communities in Los Angeles alone and have gone through the process with our own family members. If you would like us to share our perspective on how these tips can help your family’s unique situation, please reach out to us on our contact page.

Preparation

As Muhammed Ali famously said, “Preparation is half the battle.” Going into the process of choosing a new home in senior living with all of your proverbial ducks in a row will not only make the experience go more smoothly by giving a community’s resident director a complete picture of your or your loved ones needs but also help narrow down which communities are right for you.

The most important aspect to consider is the level of care or assistance that will be required for the prospective resident. While it may be more obvious in some cases, such as those who are completely independent or those with advanced dementia needing high levels of attention, many seniors need varying levels of assistance in their day-to-day lives. From help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing, transferring in-and-out of beds and chairs to medication management or administration, really look at what your family’s needs are and express them clearly during your interactions with community staff.

Other helpful pieces information to have at the ready include but are not limited to:

• Hight, weight, and age
• Medical assessments
• Dementia diagnoses (if applicable)
• Dietary needs
• Medications taken
• Ambulatory needs
• The ability to transfer yourself from a chair or bed
• Physical therapy or activity needs
• Pet information (if applicable)

Finally, having a good picture of your or your loved one’s finances is paramount in choosing a future home for seniors. Make sure that you get an accounting of all income, benefits, pensions, and assets to make sure that your future home fits into your financial plans for the next few years and beyond. Also, when meeting with community directors, ask what typical price increases look like year-to-year so that these standard industry increases are considered with your budget.

Location

One of the leading factors that most families consider when choosing a senior living community is where the community itself is located. More times than not, we recommend that families choose a community that is familiar and comfortable to them, as well as near friends and family when at all possible. Staying close to and in touch with loved ones can make the transition into senior living far less daunting, and for many seniors it’s important to choose a location that is conveniently located near their respective physicians to ensure continuity of care. With hundreds of options throughout the greater Los Angeles area alone, we’re more than confident that we can find the perfect location for you and your family’s needs.

Touring

Now that you have three to four communities that seem to fit all of your needs, whether this has been done through your own research or through a referral agency such as Senior Living Specialists of California, it’s time to schedule tours. If you are searching for a senior living community for your loved one, make sure to include them on these tours if possible so they’re able to see the communities for themselves. Many seniors experience apprehension when making the transition to senior living and seeing their peers in their potential new environment interacting with staff and fellow residents may help ease their tension and help them visualize themselves in their new home. We often suggest scheduling tours during mealtimes so you can get a realistic view of daily life during a busy time of day. If you’re able to do so, we also encourage interacting with residents and asking about their experience in that particular community.

As the community director shows you the facility, take note of the general cleanliness and organization of the community, and look for any potential safety risks such as uneven floors, cluttered hallways, or unpleasant odors. Assessing the tidiness of a community can give you insight as to whether or not it will be clean and sanitized not only for appearance’s sake but for the health and safety of your loved one.

Some pertinent questions to ask the director as they show you the community fall into a few categories:

• Staffing
  • Are there staff members and aides onsite 24/7?
  • What is the retention rate of the staff here?
  • Are team members subjected to background checks?
  • Are there nurses or physicians on-staff, and if so, how often are they onsite?
  • Do staff members receive training on elder abuse and neglect?
  • Are there staff members who can administer medication?
    • This is especially important to ask for those with diabetic needs such as insulin administration as some facilities are not equipped to do so.
• Levels of Care
  • What are the different levels of care offered and what are their associated costs?
  • How are levels of care assessed?
  • Is medication management included or is it an added amenity?
  • Are in-house services such as physical therapy or hospice available?
  • Is your staff able to assist with incontinence?
  • Is there a written plan of care for each resident?
• Security and Safety
  • Are visitors required to sign in and are the entrances monitored?
  • How are visitors managed?
  • Are there sprinkler systems throughout the community?
  • Is there an emergency call system?
  • Does the community offer safety pendants for its residents?
  • Are there grab bars in the bathrooms and seats in the showers?
  • Are memory care units and outdoor areas secured from wandering?
  • Are there handrails in the hallways?
  • Are elevators available and well-maintained?
• Food and Dining
  • Is the food appetizing and visually appealing? (ask the residents!)
  • Are there a variety of choices?
  • Does the community accommodate special dietary needs such as mechanical or vegetarian diets?
  • Is there a set menu for the community?
  • Are there food options outside of set mealtimes?
  • Where has the chef worked prior to being at this community?
  • Can your staff assist in feeding residents?
• Amenities/Life Enrichment
  • Are there daily activities available for residents? Is there a posted schedule?
  • What type of activities are scheduled for the community?
  • Are residents encouraged to participate in activities and to engage with staff and each other?
  • Does the community schedule offsite activities?
  • Are there transportation options provided by the community?
  • Some communities only offer transportation to physician appointments, but others offer pre-scheduled transportation within a certain distance.
  • Are grooming services such as a barber or beauty shop available onsite?
  • Are there activity spaces such as fitness centers, libraries, game rooms, or gardening spaces available?
  • Is your community pet friendly? If so, are there any restrictions?
• Living Spaces
  • What floor plans do you offer? (see options of each type)
  • Are your rooms furnished or unfurnished?
  • Can residents decorate and personalize their own spaces?
  • Are utilities and wi-fi provided?
  • Is housekeeping included? Does this include laundry and linen services?
  • Are there price differences for different areas of the building? (ex: facing the beach, higher stories, etc.)
• Billing
  • How much is the community fee? Is there a deposit?
  • Community Fees are standard one-time payments made during a new resident’s move-in period. In some cases, these fees can be negotiated or are discounted from seasonal specials from the communities themselves.
  • Are you running any move-in specials currently?
  • How much is the base cost of rent/board?
  • What are the level of care costs?
  • What is the cost of a second person living in the unit?
  • What are the pet fees?
  • Can I see a detailed breakdown of what my monthly costs will be?
  • Who oversees billing?
  • Under what conditions would my loved one have to move?
  • Are deposits refundable?

It can seem like an overwhelming amount of information to procure and process but ensuring that you have a complete 360-degree picture of what life is like in each community is incredibly important not only for your loved one’s happiness and wellbeing, but for your own peace-of-mind as well. Considering all of the potential needs of your senior and the capabilities of each community will ensure both.

At Senior Living Specialists of California, we’ve met with each community that we refer to and have almost all this information ready for you. If you or your older loved one is thinking about making the transition to a senior living community, please contact us today either through our contact page or call us toll-free at 1-844-770-0749 to set up a free consultation. We’re passionate about helping families find the right senior living solution for their unique needs and situation and are eager to hear from you.