| Choosing the Best Assisted Living Home: | | | | three or four facilities that are in your desired |
| Your Checklist | | | | location. It is important to choose a location that is |
| When considering an assisted living residence for | | | | close to those who will regularly visit the resident. |
| either yourself or a loved one, you want to find one | | | | Assisted living residences range in size from three |
| that is a bright, comfortable, and inviting place to live. | | | | beds to dozens of beds. Consider which environment |
| You want a home that provides a variety of | | | | would be most preferred by the future resident. |
| stimulating activities and has a history of providing | | | | Call the residences you are most interested in. Find |
| good care to residents. Most assisted living | | | | out if they have any openings, if they have an age |
| residences work with third party providers to provide | | | | requirement, if they serve a special population, and |
| additional services such as hospice, home health, and | | | | whether or not they offer the level of care required |
| therapy services. Some allow for short-term respite | | | | by the future resident. (Care levels vary greatly from |
| stays and offer adult day care. Many provide | | | | residence to residence, so it is important to ask.) If |
| specialized care for those suffering from Alzheimers | | | | necessary, find out if they are handicap accessible |
| disease and dementia, and others also have nursing | | | | and/or accept Medicaid. Do not wear yourself out |
| home care within the same campus. | | | | visiting facilities that do not have openings, do not |
| Getting started | | | | offer the services that you need or are out of your |
| Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for local | | | | price range. |
| ombudsman for information. An ombudsman is an | | | | Make an appointment to visit one of more of the |
| advocate for assisted living residents and a resource | | | | assisted living residences that meet your |
| for consumers. The ombudsman will provide free | | | | requirements. The facility should be willing to show |
| information on the facilities, including strengths, and | | | | you around any time, but we suggest you make an |
| special services, and patterns of complaints received | | | | appointment the first time. If you like a facility, make |
| by the ombudsman office. | | | | a second unannounced visit, preferably at a different |
| Obtain a list of facilities in your desired location from | | | | time of day – such as a weekend or during an |
| the local Ombudsman Program. From that list, select | | | | evening meal. |