The best assisted living senior care begins and ends with a safe, affordable facility that provides all the comfort of home with all the added peace of mind that comes with the availability of regular social activities and top-notch medical services.
However, the problem for families attempting to reserve a space in an assisted living facility or for seniors attempting to secure their own space, is that the process of deciding on the best facility can be difficult. One reason it can be difficult is that many quality facilities exist. This fact complicates one’s ability to choose. However, other reasons might be some facilities are not top-tier, and, perhaps, their staff members are not very qualified.
These sorts of concerns must be addressed and where at all possible, less-than-qualified or low-tiered facilities must be avoided.
Just as important is the fact that even when considering between seemingly good facilities, mistakes can be made. Conducting a thorough assisted living search is the best strategy for anyone choosing between facilities, and following are the most common mistakes regarding how to choose assisted living facility.
Not considering the senior’s tastes and needs
Often, loved ones consider the amenities they prefer while neglecting to consider the tastes of the senior who will be residing there. Although meaning well, loved ones might opt for a facility offering a swimming pool or the option for weekly bus tours while the senior prefers an indoor garden and movie nights. Not considering the senior’s tastes and personality will lead to unhappiness.
Trusting too much in the appearances
Immaculate rooms and posh decor can be persuasive, but sometimes, the things that appear to comprise the very best assisted living arrangement are actually only part of the whole picture.
In fact, the rooms and the areas within the facilities that receive the most attention during the tour are sometimes there only for marketing purposes. During a tour, visitors should take note of the facility map and request to see areas neglected in the tour They should also request to visit the dining area and medical facilities.
Not considering all the reasons a resident can be evicted
Residents can be evicted for three common reasons:
– Being disagreeable
– Requiring costly medical attention
– Lower profit payment method
Disagreeable residents can cause problems with both staff and residents. This is a common contractual addendum and must be acknowledged.
Costly medical requirements might seem like something a facility is required to provide. However, many facilities exercise the right to evict a tenant should his or her medical procedures become burdensome or unjustified.
Perhaps the worst justification for evicting a tenant is that the payment is made through Medicaid rather than through private insurance or via cash. Medicaid pays less to a facility, so although many facilities accept Medicaid, they do not prefer it because they realize less profit. Because contracts are often extremely hard to understand, people should consult an attorney regarding all the reasons for evictions that can be levied against a resident.
Not having a lawyer read the contract
When it comes to choosing a facility or conducting a senior living search, a lawyer will be of great help finding assisted living facility. Of course, the attorney won’t be able to provide advice based on activities and personal taste, but a legal expert knowledgeable about the community will know of lawsuits. Additionally, an attorney will be able to identify any red flags stipulated in the contract.
Not reading reviews
When it comes to reviews, the general rule of thumb is this: happy people write great reviews; unhappy, distraught people leave awful reviews. People in the process of moving a parent to assisted living should heed the reviews.
Additionally, people should take the number of reviews into considerations. Three reviews rated at five stars could have been written by unscrupulous staff members. 642 good reviews, however, probably represent an accurate picture of the facility and the satisfaction of its tenants.
Additionally, reviews should be considered from a variety of sources. A few poor reviews on a single site might be something people can justifiably ignore, but multiple, poor reviews across multiple sites should be taken as a warning of what a loved one might experience.
Not talking to staff and residents
Talking only to the marketing manager is a big mistake. People must talk to current residents and staff.
One red flag is a staff member who seems hesitant or nervous in front of his or her boss. Obviously, another red flag is the experience of a complaining resident. Other red flags include signs of resident unhappiness, neglect, boredom, or isolation. A lone resident in front of a television that isn’t even turned on is not a sign of attentive staff or quality senior care.
Waiting until an emergency exists
The act of being proactive is always prudent, but when it comes to moving into assisted living, being proactive is really the only way to make a sound choice. Having to choose between facilities as the result of an emergency forces a reactive, quick, abrupt decision. In these cases, people attempt to solve the short-term emergency rather than making a good choice based on the best possible long-term options.
Making a selection based solely on proximity
Of course, a senior living search should take into consideration proximity to area amenities as well as distance to family and friends. However, the inherent stress that surrounds moving a parent to assisted living can cause everyone involved to select a facility on location rather than on quality of services and staff.
Making a selection without consulting the senior who will be living there
When it comes to choosing a facility, if possible, the senior involved can help finding assisted living facility. A senior will be able to provide input as to whether or not the facility will suffice. Also, the opportunity to be part of the decision will ease the transition to the assisted facility and result in a much happier experience.
Not reviewing the different ways fees that can be assessed
Conducting an assisted living search goes beyond reviewing the facilities. It also means reviewing the fee chart. Many times, people consider the monthly or annual rent. However, additional fees can be listed under the category of personal attention or personal care.
For instance, some fee structures include extra fees such as co-pays for medical attention. These are understandable. However, other fees of which people should be aware include those associated with care “level.” Residents requiring little care will enjoy lower rates. However, if a loved one gets chronically sick after moving in, the level of care might be higher, and the rates might exceed what was mentioned in the initial interview.
Level of care is extremely important because many people requiring assisted living have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Alzheimer’s disease not only requires a high level of care, it becomes higher as the disease progresses. People shopping for assisted living must understand whether or not facility fees increase as the disease progresses.
Selecting a consulting business that receives kickbacks for its referral
Many people are not only faced with but are also overwhelmed by the question of how to choose assisted living facility. In fact, an entire industry has arisen to help people make this type of choice.
The good news is that most companies actually help people. They provide tips on whom to talk to and what to consider. They offer assistance by reading contracts and by providing expert advice of each facility’s recent history.
However, other companies actually receive commission for referrals. This second practice—the practice of receiving commissions—kickbacks—creates a serious conflict of interest because instead of advocating for the customer’s need, the consulting service is merely an extension of the assisted living facility, sending them as many referrals as possible for the highest possible monthly commissions.
This practice is frowned upon. People considering a consulting service should get it in writing that the consultants receive no monies or other revenues as a result of a referral.
