WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK DURING A TOUR OF AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY?

With a rapidly growing number of senior living centers in Everett, Washington, as well as throughout the Great Northwest, finding the right facility for a senior loved one can feel like an overwhelmingly daunting task. You can expect to be inundated with information that might lead to information overload, which makes it difficult to decide on the right assisted living facility. However, you can simplify the search process for a senior living facility in Everett, WA by asking the right series of questions.

Any licensed staff member can help you answer questions, whether you ask the questions over the phone or during a scheduled tour of an assisted living facility. Some assisted living communities designate tour guides, while other facilities assign a caregiver or even the facility director to conduct tours. You should ask questions to more than one staff member to help you detect bias in the answers. If you follow a tour guide during a scheduled tour, ask to speak with the community director or another licensed employee of the facility.

Here is an overview of the types of questions to ask during a tour of an assisted living facility. Remember that the questions you ask should be relevant to meeting your senior loved one’s needs.

How Does Your Facility Ensure a Safe and Clean Living Environment?

Before you determine the amenities provided and the activities scheduled at an assisted living facility in Everett, Washington, you first must determine how safe and clean a facility is for your senior loved one. Determine whether every exit is clearly marked, as well as if the facility has installed safety features such as handrails, grab bars, and zero-threshold bathrooms. Your loved one also should have access to features like elevators, stair lifts, and wheelchair ramps.

Any assisted living facility on your shortlist of candidates should undergo regular inspections conducted by the appropriate government agencies.

What Type of Training is Provided to Caregivers

At our assisted living facility, we operate on the principle that it is important to hire the right personalities for caregivers, and then ensure they receive the type of comprehensive training they need to meet the unique care requirements of our residents. You should be able to determine whether caregivers make residents feel welcome, such as caregivers calling residents by their first names. A low caregiver-to-resident ratio indicates a senior living facility provides focused attention to meeting the needs of patients.

Not only should training be thorough, but it also should be ongoing to account for the rapid changes that unfold in the senior care industry.

How Does the Facility Promote an Active Lifestyle?

Numerous research studies have proven the link between maintaining vibrant health and engaging in an active lifestyle. You should ask about the number and the extent of the activities offered at an assisted living facility. A highly-rated senior living facility such as MorningStar at Silver Lake offers a long list of regularly scheduled activities onsite, as well as scheduled off-site visits to the cultural and entertainment venues located throughout the greater Seattle region.

Just as important of a question is how an assisted living facility motivates residents to participate in community activities.

By offering three lifestyle options, which are independent, assisted, and memory care living, MorningStar at Silver Lake allows seniors to make seamless life transitions without ever having to move out of our facility. Ask the right questions by scheduling a tour of our assisted living facility in Everett, WA.