Questions You Should Ask Every Assisted or Senior Living Community

During my 30 years in senior living operations and sales I've failed to understand why families or future residents rarely ask detailed questions relating to management. Even more alarming is that the checklists many are using to assist with their decision-making process does not mention them.

Delivering consistent quality care and service in such a dynamic atmosphere is difficult. Imagine what it takes to provide quality meals, housekeeping, activities, maintenance, assistance with specific resident needs such as medications, bathing, grooming, mobility, emergency response, communication with physicians, pharmacies, families, therapists, hospice, home health and so much more 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Each residents needs and expectations are unique and changing. Residents and families trust the community team to deliver consistent service.

The importance of employee satisfaction is often overlooked. It directly impacts the quality of care and services delivered. It's simple, happy employees create happy residents and families.

Selecting the correct community can be a life or death decision There are many excellent checklists online. Most are extremely long and maynot be user friendly.

Remember people provide the services. I recommend you request the following information from each community you are considering. Refusing to provide this information is a RED flag.

1.  List of department managers and tenure in their position (including the Executive Director)

2. List of open department manager positions, amount of time open.

3. Copy of employee and resident customer service survey results. It's critical to get both employee and resident results.

4. Copy of most recent state survey results ( if applicable). Ask the Executive Director to explain.

Good Luck with your search.

Rick D Watkins

rickd.watkins@gmail.com