Finding the right senior living community can feel like a monumental task, one filled with big emotions and an overwhelming number of choices. It’s a decision that weighs heavily on your heart, balancing safety, care, and happiness for someone you love. But what if you had a trusted guide to cut through the confusion when choosing an assisted living facility?
This essential checklist is your roadmap, transforming a daunting process into a manageable mission. It will equip you with the crucial questions to ask and the subtle signs to look for, empowering you to find a place where your loved one won’t just live, but will truly thrive.
Choosing an Assisted Living Community can be Very Challenging
Moving your older adult to assisted living is a big challenge for many families.
Deciding when to make the transition can be tough, but once that’s resolved, the next question is how to find an assisted living community that’s right for your older adult.
You want to make sure they’ll be well cared for and that they’re also a good fit for their lifestyle and personality.
The distance to you or other relatives might be an essential consideration as well.
Generally, that means reviewing an older adult’s budget, visiting a few places, and weighing the pros and cons to make a final decision.
To make the process easier, we found a practical free guide that summarizes key information and has a handy checklist.
This guide and checklist help you organize your thoughts, notice essential details, and compare one community against another.
We share an overview of the guide to choosing an assisted living facility and highlight the most helpful checklist items.
This Checklist Helps You Choose the Right Assisted Living Community
Looking at assisted living communities is an overwhelming process; there’s a lot that can be accidentally overlooked.
Argentum (formerly ALFA), a non-profit group for senior living communities, offers a free guide and checklist that answers the top questions about choosing an assisted living facility.
The checklist helps you evaluate each community and puts the most important questions at your fingertips.
We recommend browsing the entire guide, but you could also go straight to the checklist in the last section.
What’s in the guide?
- Pages 1 to 3 – introduction
- Page 4 – What are assisted living communities, benefits, and pricing?
- Page 5 – What are the amenities, services, types of care available, and payment options?
- Page 6 – Who oversees quality, state regulation inspection reports, and how to find a community?
- Pages 7 to 11 – community review checklist
How to Use the Assisted Living Review Checklist
The checklist goes beyond the usual questions about assisted living services.
It helps you notice the “little things” that can be easy to miss as a casual visitor.
These are the essential details that give you an idea of what life is truly like there and how good the care really is.
Checklist questions we thought were most useful:
- Are you able to talk with residents about how they like the community and staff?
- Are visits with the resident welcome at any time?
- Is staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) if needed?
- 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?
- What are the most common reasons why a resident may be asked to move out of the community?
Final Thoughts on Finding the Right Assisted Living Facility
Remember, you are not just looking for a building with services; you are searching for a new home. A place filled with community, respect, and joy. This checklist is more than a piece of paper; it’s a tool to help you listen to your instincts and find the perfect fit where your loved one’s next chapter can be written with comfort and dignity.
Trust the process, lean on this guide, and take the first step with confidence. The peace of mind that comes from finding the right place is a gift to both your loved one and yourself.”
Next Steps: Print or save the ALFA Guide to Choosing an Assisted Living Facility (PDF)
Recommended for you:
- 7 Senior Housing Options: Which One Works Best?
- When to Move to Assisted Living? Advice From a Social Worker
- 3 Tips to Choose Between Assisted Living vs In-Home Care
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
My mother has been in assisted living for around 2 years. Two different facilities. I have not been impressed with the quality of care she has received. The problem isn’t the facility so much but the people that work there. Most make minimum wage, they do their job and that’s about it. This industry could do a much better job. Constantly stay on top of the facility and be an advocate for your loved one. I had to eventually put a camera in my mom’s room to make sure she was getting the care she was paying for. I still have to ask why her clothes haven’t been washed or her hearing aid batteries are dead! And this is one of the nicest Centers in the area!
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re sorry to hear that your mother’s care community is doing a poor job 🙁 It’s wonderful that you’re able to advocate for her and remind the staff that you’re watching and will do what you need to ensure that her needs are met.
Thanks for sharing a checklist for choosing a senior living community.
You’re very welcome!