Assisted Living

Is it time to consider having someone else assist with caring for your loved one? Assisted living communities are an option for many elderly individuals.

An assisted living community is a facility that provides living arrangements for residents who still want to live independently, but might need help with daily tasks. For example, a resident may have trouble with tasks such as taking medicine, bathing, dressing, getting to appointments or preparing meals.

When you are searching for an assisted living community, you want to be sure that the assisted living community will meet the needs of your loved one. You should ask the following questions:

Does the community offer:

Private rooms?
Amenities such as private kitchens or bathrooms?
A variety of doctors and therapists to choose from?

How many living units are there in the community?
How many residents currently live in the community?
How large are the living units in the community? Are all units the same size or are there different sizes with different prices?
Are there different types of living units? Are there units with washers and dryers, refrigerators, etc?
Does the community charge a monthly, quarterly or yearly fee?

Before you make a final decision, make sure you read the official contract carefully. Also, ask someone else (family member, friend or personal lawyer) to review the contract.

Be on the alert for:

Hidden costs (for example, security deposits, rent, utilities, parking fees)
What exactly the services for the community include (for example, meal service, health care service)
Safety in the community (for example, make sure the staff is professional and respectful to the residents; that the community is clean and well lit, and that residents’ units have safety locks)