Savvy Senior: Tips for choosing an assisted living facility

Dear Savvy Senior: What’s the best way to choose an assisted living facility for my 86-year-old father? Since Mom died last year, his health has declined to the point that he can’t live at home anymore, but he isn’t ready for a nursing home. — Searching Susan

Dear Susan: If your dad needs help with things such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, managing his medications or just getting around, an assisted living facility is definitely a good option.

Assisted living facilities are residential communities that offer different levels of health or personal care services for seniors who want or need help with daily living.

There are nearly 29,000 assisted living communities in the United States, some of which are part of a retirement community or nursing home. Most facilities have 10 to 100 suites, varying in size from a single room to a full apartment. And some even offer special memory care units for residents with dementia.

To help you choose a good assisted living facility for your dad, here are some steps to follow:

Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top assisted living communities in your area, including your dad’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who’ve had a loved one in assisted living; or you can do an online search at Caring.com.

Do research: To research the communities on your list, put a call into your long-term care ombudsman. This is a government official who investigates long-term care facility complaints and advocates for residents and their families. This person can help you find the latest health inspection reports on specific assisted living facilities and can tell you which ones have had complaints or other problems. To find your local ombudsman, visit LTCombudsman.org.

Call facilities: Once you’ve identified a few good assisted living facilities, call them to see if they have vacancies, what they charge and if they provide the types of services your father needs.

Tour your top choices: During your visit, pay attention to the cleanliness of the facility. Is it homey and inviting? Does the staff seem responsive and kind to its residents? Also, be sure to taste the food, and talk to the residents and their family members, if available. It’s also a good idea to visit several times at different times of day and on different days of the week to get a broader perspective.

On your visit, get a copy of the admissions contract and the residence rules that outline the fees (and any extra charges), services and residents’ rights, and explanations for when a resident might be asked to leave because their condition has worsened and they require more care than the facility can provide.

Also, find out their staff turnover rate, COVID infection control procedures and if and when medical professionals are on site. To help you rate your visit, Caring.com offers a checklist of questions that you can download and print at Caring.com/static/checklist-AL-tour.pdf.

How to pay: Monthly costs for assisted living range from $2,500 to $6,000 or more, depending on where you live, the facility you choose and the services provided. Since Medicare does not cover assisted living, most residents pay out of pocket, and some have long-term care insurance policies.

If your dad has limited financial resources, most states now have Medicaid waiver programs that help pay for assisted living. If he’s a veteran, he may be able to get funds through the Veterans Affairs’ Aid and Attendance benefit. To find out about these programs, ask the assisted living facility director, or contact his local Medicaid office (see Medicaid.gov) or the regional VA benefit office (800-827-1000).

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.