There are many things to consider when looking for a new home for your senior loved one. When it is time to move your family member to an assisted living community, loved ones should do enough research to feel confident in their decision. During your appointment and assisted living tour, come prepared with questions, and the staff can help you to make a more informed decision.

Here are some essential questions to ask when visiting a potential assisted living community for your loved one.

What is the overall atmosphere and culture of your community?
While it may be helpful to get the staff’s perspective on this question, you can probably observe the answer for yourself. While taking the tour, look for the details. Is the staff interacting with the residents? Do the residents seem engaged and happy? Are the facilities clean, well-kept, and attractively decorated? You can also speak to residents about their daily life, the activities they enjoy, and if they have made friends. There is a lot you can learn when you look around for yourself and take note of what you see.
What types of care plans are available for my senior loved one?
Assisted living facilities offer a full range of services based upon each resident’s needs – within reason, of course. There are many daily tasks that your loved one may need help with, and it is important to understand which of these items may be included in their care plan and which may be considered extras. These may include medication management, assistance with hygiene and grooming, specialized diet requirements, assistance with transportation to and from doctor’s visits, trips for grocery shopping, and housekeeping tasks. These plans can often be customized based upon the resident’s needs and may require extra funds. That is why it is important to understand care levels.
Who takes care of the residents?
Ask the administration about the makeup of the staff. How many employees are on shift at any given time? What levels of training are represented? Is there medical assistance onsite? While there are some legal requirements for the types of care an assisted living facility must provide, ask questions to understand the totality of the staff’s expertise and experience. You can also ask about any volunteer or onsite programs that will have other people onsite to help keep your loved one feel engaged and cared for during the week.
What qualifications are required for residents to be eligible to live at the facility?
When you take a tour of a potential assisted living facility, the staff will have questions for you as well. Residence staff will need to determine if your loved one is a good fit for their facility, as they typically do not accept new residents with excessive medical needs. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s may need to consider a memory care residence instead of assisted living.

If you are visiting multiple Venice area assisted living facilities, take comprehensive notes and keep them organized so you can remember important details about each location. Most families will find that the most suitable facility – with the right environment, staff and activities – becomes evident during the search. At A Banyan Residence, we take pride in our facility and staff and their commitment to our residents. We look forward to meeting you and your loved ones and discussing their options for their next phase of life.