Before choosing an assisted living community, it’s important to compare several options and schedule a visit to each one. Read on to learn about the important checklist for touring assisted living facilities and take it with you on each visit to determine if a community is a good fit for your needs.

Complete Checklist for Touring Assisted Living Facilities and What to Look out For

Levels of Care

A person’s social and medical needs change over time, so it’s important to ask if the assisted living community offers more than one level of care. Abbey Manor has two levels of assisted care, along with memory care services to help residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss.

Lower levels of care in assisted living are appropriate for residents who don’t have memory loss and can move around on their own. Higher levels of assisted care are available for residents who need help with activities of daily living. Our community has caregivers to help with mobility and make sure residents get the services they need to stay healthy.

Common Spaces

It’s important for residents to stay engaged. That’s why a community designed for senior housing should have comfortable common spaces. When you visit assisted living communities, look around to see if they have living rooms, game rooms or other common areas. Abbey Manor has an atrium-style living area with plenty of room for reading, playing games or having a cup of coffee with friends.

While you’re visiting, look around to see if the common spaces easily accommodate wheelchairs, canes and other assistive devices. A high level of accessibility makes it easier for residents to socialize and enjoy their favorite activities.

Personal Living Spaces

Residents should have plenty of privacy, so it’s important to view the community’s living areas during your visit. Ask the following questions:

• Does each resident live in a single room, or does the community have shared rooms?
• Is there a private bathroom available?
• Can residents bring their own furniture?
• How large is each room?
• Do residents control the temperature in their rooms?
• Are pets allowed?

Abbey Manor has two homes, both of which have private rooms. Residents have control of the heating and cooling in their personal space, ensuring a high level of comfort. Although Abbey Manor provides furniture if needed, we encourage residents to bring their own items if it will help them feel more at home. All rooms also have basic cable as an entertainment option.

Community Services

Senior living communities should have a wide range of services available to meet residents’ physical and social needs. When you visit, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the amenities offered to determine if the community is a great fit for you or a loved one.

• How many meals per day are included? Abbey Manor serves breakfast, a hot lunch and a light dinner featuring salads, soups and sandwiches.
• Is the dining room open throughout the day, or do residents have to eat their meals at specific times?
• Are residents required to eat in the dining area, or can they take food back to their rooms?
• Does the senior living community have a variety of foods available to suit residents’ preferences?
• Can the dining services staff accommodate special requests due to allergies or specific dietary needs? For example, do residents with kidney disease have access to low-sodium options?
• Does the community offer organized activities to keep residents engaged? Abbey Manor offers stimulating activities, including picnics, trips to local theater performances, luncheons, crafts and walks. We also schedule visits from Paws for People, a group that brings in well-trained animals to visit with residents.

Policies Related to Family Members

It’s important for residents to spend time with their family members. When you visit an assisted living community, be sure to ask about the following:

• Does the community allow overnight guests? For example, would a family member be allowed to spend the night if needed?
• Are visitors allowed 24/7, or does the assisted living community have limited visiting hours each day?
• Does the assisted living facility have holiday meals or other special events for family members to attend?

Health Services

Many senior living communities offer health services to help residents stay well. Some of them have trained medical professionals on site, while others have relationships with local medical facilities to ensure residents have convenient access to care. Every community should have a written care plan developed for each resident, detailing the services needed to meet the resident’s health care needs. When you visit a senior living community, ask about the following:

• Are trained staff members available to handle a resident’s medical emergency quickly?
• Does the community offer home health care visits to ensure residents have regular access to medical care?
• How do administrators ensure staff members are meeting the needs identified in each resident’s initial assessment?
• Does the senior living community offer medication management to ensure residents take their daily medications on time?
• Do residents have access to physical therapy services? If so, does the physical therapist work for the community, or do residents have to go off-site to access care?
• Does the community offer transportation to off-site doctor’s appointments?
• How often do staff members check on a resident’s outward appearance?
• Do staff members provide personal assistance with activities of daily living?
• What additional services are available to help you or your loved one stay healthy?

General Policies

You should also ask the tour guide about general policies related to staffing, resident safety and billing.

• Does the community have a process in place for reporting suspected abuse?
• Do all employees undergo criminal background checks before working with residents?
• What’s included in the residency agreement?
• How soon after paying a deposit can you or a loved one move in?
• Does each room have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors?
• Is there a written plan for handling evacuations during a fire or natural disaster?

Schedule a Tour Today

Abbey Manor has rooms accommodating a wide range of needs, along with comfortable living areas for relaxing and enjoying life. To schedule a tour of our assisted living community in Maryland, call (443) 256-4871.