What kind of questions do I need to ask before I decide which facility to help move my elderly friend or family member into?

Even once you've done the hard work of talking it over with them, moving your elderly friend or family member into an Assisted Living facility can still be a daunting task. Depending on how much help they need you may need to do most or all of the talking. It can certainly be hard to know for sure what questions you should ask. You of course want to make a good choice. So just what kind of things do you need to know?

Financial concerns are almost always involved when considering an Assisted Living facility. Some of the questions you'll probably want to ask a representative are:

• What's the cost?
• Will the lease agreement be monthly or yearly?
• Is there a large initial down-payment required, and, if so, what is your refund policy?
• What are the options for level of care and comfort and what does it cost for each?
• What is the history of rent increases at your facility?
• What's included in the price? Meal service, cleaning service, maintenance, laundry, etc?

Here are some additional questions you may want to ask :

• What levels of care do you offer?
• Does assisted care include help with dressing, walking and the like or do you simply handle medications and emergencies?
• Do you offer either long-term or short-term health care?
• What happens if my friend or family member develops dementia or get more ill?
• If a resident is hospitalized how long will you hold his or her room?
• Are there visiting hours, and if so, what are they?
• What happens if a resident runs out of money? Do they end up out on the street?
• Are there limitations on the age of residents?
• Can residents keep pets?
• Are residents expected to tip staff?
• What is the ratio of staff-to-residents?
• Would you introduce me to a few residents and allow me to get in contact with their family members to ask them some questions about their experience with your facility?
• Does your staff eat the provided food? Is your chef seasoned?
• What kind of activities do you offer?

These are just some ideas to get you started. If you're involved in searching for an Assisted Living facility for your friend or family member chances are you've already spoken with a few facilities. Additionally, you almost certainly have questions unique to your particular situation. It's always a good idea to take some notes - this can be a stressful time, and our minds aren't always as fine-tuned as they'd normally be when under some amount of stress.