Assisted Living Checklist
Assisted living has emerged as a highly important part of Michigan's continuum of care services for older adults. Providing a unique combination of housing, personal care services, and health care, assisted living is the perfect option for people who need help with normal daily activities in a way that promotes maximum independence. Think of assisted living as offering more than independent housing but less than nursing home care.
Below you'll find a checklist of items to be considered in selecting an assisted living arrangement for yourself or a loved one. Please note that adult foster care and homes for aged are considered forms of assisted living and are licensed by the State of Michigan. Higher levels of care within assisted living residences require this licensure. Contact the Department of Health and Human Services to determine if the residence you are considering is licensed by the state of Michigan.
Michigan Office of Services to the Aging
ASSISTED LIVING CHECKLIST
Below is a checklist of items to be considered in selecting an assisted living arrangement for yourself or a loved one.
Consumer Rights and Protections
Request copies of the following:
r Consumer rights policy
r Internal complaint or grievance procedure
r Policies and procedures for responding to complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation
r Does provider carry a surety bond to cover any resident deposits and/or provider held trust accounts?
Services and Fees
r Prices for each individual service (get in writing)
r Manner in which rates are increased (request 5-year history of rate increases)
r Conditions under which services will be terminated other than for non-payment of rent.
r Performs initial evaluation or comprehensive assessment, ongoing care planning, service coordination, or ongoing evaluation (written plan of care for each resident).
r Additional services available if resident's needs change
r Provisions for meeting scheduled and unscheduled needs such as transportation, special meal arrangements, medication management, etc.
r Availability of 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living as necessary.
Environment and Building Safety
r Building, fixtures, and furnishings in good condition
r Emergency fire sprinkling system
r Backup generators in case of power failure (provide power to individual living units, interior stairwells, etc.)
r Evacuation procedures and emergency drills (how frequently held)
r Security system
Staffing and Training
r Training requirements for direct care staff
r Supervision of direct care staff - ratio of supervisors to staff
r Activities staff - volunteers, paid, credentials
r Regular visits by doctor, nurse, podiatrist, or other licensed health care professional.
r Registered dietician (request sample menu).
r Criminal background checks on volunteer and paid staff
r Staff on duty 24 hours a day (not just on call, but actually on duty at facility)
Quality of Life
r Enrichment activities available for residents at various levels of functioning (request calendar of events).
r Interview current residents for their impressions of facility, staff, activities, meals, attention to complaints, etc.
July 2007