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The following is a consumer checklist of
important services, amenities and accommodations in Assisted Living
communities. We recommend making several visits, at various times, to
each residence you are considering. As you compare Assisted Living
residences we hope this checklist will assure you that the residence you
choose will be one of the highest quality and meets your needs.
Consider the following as you assess an
Assisted Living residence:
Atmosphere
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As you arrive at the residence, do you
like its location and outward appearance?
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As you enter the lobby and tour the
residence, is the décor attractive and homelike?
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Did you receive a warm greeting from
staff welcoming you to the residence?
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Does the administrator/staff call
residents by name and interact warmly with them as you tour the
residence?
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Do residents socialize with each other
and appear happy and comfortable?
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Are you able to talk with residents
about how they like the residence and staff?
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Do the residents seem to be
appropriate house mates for you or your loved one?
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Is staff appropriately dressed,
personable and outgoing?
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Do the staff members treat each other
in a professional manner?
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Are the staff members that you pass
during your tour friendly to you?
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Are visits with the resident welcome
at any time?
Physical
Features
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Is the community well-designed for
resident's needs?
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Is the floor plan easy to follow?
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Are doorways, hallways and rooms
accommodating to wheelchairs and walkers?
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Are elevators available for those
unable to use stairways?
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Are hand rails available to aid in
walking?
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Are cupboards and shelves easy to
reach?
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Are floors of a non-skid material and
carpets firm to ease walking?
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Does the residence have good natural
and artificial lighting?
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Is the residence clean, free of odors
and appropriately heated/cooled?
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Does the residence meet local and/or
state licensing requirements?
Needs
Assessments, Contracts, Costs & Finances
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Is there a written plan for the care
of each resident?
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Does the residence have a process for
assessing a potential resident's need for services and are those
needs addressed periodically?
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Does this process include the
resident, their family and facility staff along with the potential
resident's physician?
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When may a contract be terminated wand
what are refund policies?
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Are there any government, private or
corporate programs available to help cover the cost of services to
the resident?
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Is a contractual agreement available
to include accommodations, personal care, health care and supportive
services?
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Are additional services available if
the resident's needs change?
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Is there a procedure to pay for
additional services like nursing care when the services are needed
on a temporary basis?
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Do billing, payment, and credit
policies seem fair and reasonable?
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May a resident handle their own
finances with staff assistance if able or should a family member or
outside party be designated to do so?
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Are residents required to purchase
renters' insurance for personal property in their units?
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Is staff available to meet scheduled
and unscheduled needs?
Medication
& Health Care
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Does the residence have specific
policies regarding storage of medication, assistance with
medications, training and supervision of staff and record keeping?
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Is self-administration of medication
allowed?
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Is there a staff person to coordinate
home care visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, etc. if needed?
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Are staff available to assist
residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgement losses?
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Is there a wellness program?
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Does the residence have a clearly
stated procedure for responding to a resident's medical emergency?
Services
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Can the residence provide a list of
services available?
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Can the residence arrange for personal
care services or suggest a way to arrange personal care services
through a home health agency?
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Is staff available to provided 24-hour
assistance with activities of daily living (ADL's) if needed? ADL's
include:
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Dressing
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Eating
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Mobility
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Hygiene and grooming
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Bathing, toileting and incontinence
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Using the telephone
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Shopping
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Laundry
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Does the residence provide
housekeeping services in residents' units?
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Does the residence provide
transportation to doctors' offices, the hairdresser, shopping, and
other activities desired by residents?
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Can residents arrange for
transportation on fairly short notice?
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Are pharmacy, barber/beautician and/or
physical therapy services offered on-site?
Individual
Unit Features
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Are different sizes and types of units
available?
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Are units for single and double
occupancy available?
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Do residents have their own lockable
doors?
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Is a 24-hour emergency response system
accessible for the unit?
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Are bathrooms private with handicapped
accommodations to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
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Are residents able to bring their own
furnishings for their unit and what may they bring?
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Do all units have a telephone and
cable TV and how is billing handled?
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Is a kitchen area/unit provided with a
refrigerator, sink and cooking element?
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May residents keep food in their
units?
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May residents smoke in their units, In
public spaces?
Social &
Recreational Activities
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Is there evidence of an organized
activities program, such as a posted daily schedule, events in
progress, reading materials, visitors, etc.?
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Do residents participate in activities
outside of the residence in the neighboring community?
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Do volunteers, including family
members, come into the residence to help with or conduct programs?
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Does the residence create a sense of
community by asking and encouraging residents to participated in
activities?
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Are residents' pets allowed in the
residence? Who is responsible for their care?
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Does the residence have its own pets?
Food
Services
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Does the residence provide three
nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven day a week?
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Are meal times appropriate?
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Are snacks available?
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May a resident request special foods?
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Are common dining area available?
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May residents eat meals in their
units?
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Do dining room menus vary from day to
day and meal to meal?
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