Assisted-living, memory care: How did you find a good facility?

We are fortunate to live in an area where many come to retire (Phoenix/Scottsdale). There are quite a few very nice retirement facilities that offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care. We had signed up to move into independent living a couple of years ago but backed out when I realized how difficult it would be for my husband to move.

I called that faculty's director of memory care to see if my husband could go into their memory care while I prepared to move into their independent living. She said they already had a waitlist for current residents, but she suggested three other faculties she had heard were good.

Since I'm my husband's sole caregiver, my daughter toured the three memory care faculties. Beforehand, we prepared a list of questions that were important to us. She thought I'd like one the best, so she stayed with my husband so I could tour it. We were looking for the cleanliness of the facility (no foul odors or that of disinfectant), the staff's appearance, and the residents. I met and spoke to the director, the caretakers, the physical therapist, and even the executive chef, who was very proud of his scratch kitchen.
I was very impressed with everything and still am.

@trishaanderson
I also live in Phoenix/Scottsdale.
Would you mind sharing the name of the place you found. If not the name, some kind of hint.

Thanks

SusanEllen

I would be happy to share the name of the care facility—the Manor Lifestyle on 56th Street and Deer Valley Road in the Desert Ridge area. I was very pleased with the facility itself as well as their top-notch staff. Throughout the whole process, including after two and a half days, I called and said I couldn't do it, and I was coming to pick him up.
Trisha

One tip I can offer is visit at different times. If you visit on a regular visit, the aides know when to expect you and many of them will act so much more caring and nice. When you visit at unexpected times, you may catch some of the less nicer things going on. Keep them off guard. I am not saying that all nursing homes or assistant care homes are like that, but it is a good thing to keep in mind. They all should have an ombudsman that you can call and share any feelings that you have. they are required to check them out. From personal experience with my dad, many of the aides are only there for the money. When I retired in 2012 from the welfare office in Armstrong county pa, I was a caseworker working in the nursing home unit determining eligibility for help from the state for people. There are many rules and regulations you must meet-especially income and resources. Talking to an elder care attorney is really important if you can afford one. They know all the laws you need to know before deciding on a nursing home or an assisted living place including dementia care.

I’ve found the following to be helpful questions when interviewing communities or residential care homes…
Observe the lobby when you enter…. How many staff are evident, and are residents “parked” in their wheelchairs? Are they napping in the lobby?
Ask what the staff to resident ratio is during the day AND night. (It will be different at night).
If a residential care home, is the staff awake or asleep during the night?
Is there an RN on staff, and do they reside at the home, or just accessible?

When was the last State survey done? (Should be less than two years). And will they make that report available for you to read? How many deficiencies and how serious were they? Were there fines levied? Are they currently out of compliance, or have they ever been out of compliance with the State?
Does the dietary staff accommodate special needs? Is there an extra charge?
What is the average response time when an assistance button is pressed?
(Most facilities have a program to monitor this).
Will the facility convert you to Medicaid from private pay when necessary? How many years do you need to have lived there before they will do this?
Is there a “fall” requirement they follow? (Some asst care facilities will chart falls, and when there are 3, they will either suggest another heavier care facility or require an increase in level of care and price).. some larger assisted care communities will require you then hire private caregivers if you want to not move.
How long has the Administrator been there? How long has the supervising RN been in place?
Don’t be afraid to take a complete tour…. Including the laundry area. Peek in to the staff lounge, and visit with a few of the residents….

It’s definitely a process of discovery. I hope this helps.

About state reporting and regulations. Some states actually inspect and report on assisted living and nursing facilities. But some don’t. And so knowing how much your state monitors these facilities is essential before looking at, or for the reports.

When my husband needed memory care and because of my own health issues, I could no longer do it, I chose a faith-affiliated facility where I had volunteered previously. I had seen their operation from the semi-inside and was reasonably confident that he would get good treatment. Nevertheless I visited regularly and occasionally at odd hours, just to check on things and bring him his favorite snacks. One of the aides remarked that he had held his weight well (instead of losing weight as many dementia patients do) . To myself, I thought, if you ate as many Hostess cakes as he does per week, you’d be ….

Those were my Mom’s favorite snacks, too!