Assisted Living Checklist

Appearance and Environment

• Do you like the exterior appearance of the community? Does the location meet your needs?
• Do you like the interior décor?
• Does staff greet you and make you feel welcome?
• Do the executive director and community residents seem to have a respectful, cordial relationship?
• Do residents socialize and appear happy and comfortable?
• Do residents offer positive reports about the community and the staff?
• Do the residents seem like they’d be good neighbors/companions for you or your loved one?
• Are staff members neat, presentable and professional?
• Do the staff members interact with residents and one another respectfully?
• Are the staff members you encounter during your tour friendly to you?
• Are visits welcome any time, even when unannounced?
• Is the community clean and free of odors?
• Is the temperature comfortable?

Design and Layout

• Does the layout of the community seem well designed for your needs?
• Is the floor plan simple and easy to follow?
• Do doorways, halls, and rooms accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
• If there are multiple floors, are the elevators convenient and in good working order?
• Are there grab rails handy? Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?
• Is there a comfortable mix of artificial and natural lighting?
• Are there sprinklers, smoke detectors, and clearly marked exits?

Needs Assessments, Residency Agreements

• Is a consumer disclosure form available that clearly discloses the personal care and supportive services offered, fees for those services as well as any other extra expenses, and move-in and move-out provisions?
• Can you review the residency agreement before move-in?
• Is an individualized written care plan created for each resident? If so, how frequently is it reviewed and updated?
• How does the community assess which services residents need? Are those assessments updated on a regular basis? Are residents, residents’ family and physicians consulted for those assessments?

Costs, Finances, Policies

• What government, private, or corporate programs are available, if any, to help cover resident costs?
• Are additional services available if a resident’s needs change?
• Are different cost tiers offered for different levels or categories of services? If so, what are they?
• Are billing, payment, and credit policies fair and reasonable?
• Does the community accept long-term care insurance?
• Does the community accept Medicaid?
• What are the refund and transfer policies?
• Are residents required to purchase renters’ insurance for personal property in their apartments?
• What is the process for resolving residents’ complaints?
• Is the resident bill of rights clearly posted or available for review?

Medication and Healthcare

• What are the community’s policies regarding storage of medication, medication assistance, staff training and supervision, and record keeping?
• Can residents self-administer their own medication?
• Does the community staff coordinate home health-care visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, etc., when necessary?
• Are there clearly stated policies and procedures for responding to a resident’s medical emergency?
• Are ancillary services such as hospice or physical therapy available, and how are these services provided? Are there additional charges for these services?

Personal Services and Amenities

• Is a list of care services and associated fees available?
• Is there a nurse on staff?
• Is staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) if needed? (ADLs include dressing, eating, mobility, hygiene and grooming, bathing, and toileting.)
• What training does the staff receive?
• Is housekeeping service provided for residents’ apartments?
• Can residents arrange for transportation on fairly short notice?
• Are there barber/beautician services offered on-site? If so, when and how often?
• Does the community provide scheduled transportation to doctors’ offices, hair appointments, shopping, and other resident activities?

Apartment Features

• Are different apartment sizes and floor plans offered?
• Are there single and double occupancy apartments?
• Do residents have their own lockable doors?
• Is a 24-hour emergency response system accessible from the apartment?
• Are bathrooms private and designed to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
• Are residents able to furnish their own apartments? If so, to what extent? What is provided?
• Do all apartments have a telephone, cable or satellite TV, and Internet access? How is billing for those handled?
• Can residents store and cook food in their apartments?
• Is the kitchen provisioned with a refrigerator, sink and stove and/or microwave?
• May residents smoke in their apartments? In public spaces?

Social and Recreational Activities

• Is there a posted daily schedule of activities? Do you observe such events in progress?
• Is there a community library?
• Do residents participate in activities in the neighboring community?
• Does the community have its own pets?
• Are residents’ pets allowed in the community? If so, who is responsible for their care?
• Do volunteers, including family members, visit and participate in community activities or programs?
• Does the community create a sense of inclusion by encouraging residents to participate in activities?

Dining Services

• Does the community provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week? Do menus vary from day to day and meal to meal?
• Are snacks available?
• Can residents request special foods? Can the dining service accommodate special dietary needs?
• Are common dining areas available, pleasant and clean?
• May residents eat meals in their apartments if they choose?
• Are there set times for meals, or can residents take meals when they choose?

Additional Questions

• Does the community conduct criminal background checks on employees?
• Does the community train staff on elder abuse and neglect? Is there a policy for reporting suspected abuse?
• Does the community have a special care unit (SCU) wing or floor for residents with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease? If so, is it secured to prevent wandering?
• Can visiting family members spend the night? If so, is there a charge for this?
• What are the most common reasons why a resident may be asked to move out of the community?
• Is the state inspection report available for review?