One of the best ways to measure an assisted living facility’s performance is through resident assessments. If you’re looking for assisted care, do you your homework. Find out what other residents and their families have to say about the facility.
You are likely to find out good and bad things no matter where you go, but taking the time to get the complete picture can save you a lot of grief and heartache in the long run.
Ask the Residents
Start by informally interviewing the residents. If you let them talk about their experiences, you will learn a lot about the type of care, activities, and socializing events that take place. You can use these questions to get started:
- Do you get along well with the staff? Are they friendly?
- Do you have a lot of friends here?
- What kinds of activities do the residents participate in?
- How long have you been living here? Have you experienced any problems?
Attend a Resident’s Council Meeting
Find out if your assisted living facility has a resident’s council. A resident’s council is like a tenant association or a homeowner’s group. It gives the residents of an assisted living facility a voice in the way things are run.
Talk to council representatives about their meetings, and consider attending one of their sessions. This is a great way to find out what kinds of issues or problems residents face. One of the major functions of any council is to address complaints. If you know what the complaints are in advance, you can make a more informed choice.
Form a Resident’s Council or Family Council
If you already live in a facility but don’t currently have a council, consider starting one. Councils are a great way to communicate important issues to the facility’s administrative personnel and build community among residents.
Family councils are another option. They benefit the assisted living community in multiple ways. First, they allow family members to speak on behalf of loved ones who may or may not feel comfortable bringing up concerns. Second, they show residents that others care about the quality of treatment and assistance they receive.
It’s easy to get glowing reports from facility administrators, but you can feel even more confident about your long-term care choices when you know that other residents are happy and satisfied.
Tags: assisted living residents, facility assessments, resident assessments
