Questions to Ask Assisted Living and/or Memory Care Facilities

Created by: Michelle Luszczewski LCSW, LCADC on Mon, Mar 31, 2025

1. What does the cost of assisted living or memory care start at?
2. What would change this cost? (Some facilities have a room rate and a level of care rate)
3. How often are there price increases and about how much have the increases been in the past?
4. Are there community fees to move in? What would be the upfront cost of our loved one to move in?
5. How do you accept payments? Can we make split payments in a month? (Can we have that in writing?
6. How many residents live here?
7. What is the caregiver and nurse ratio to residents?
8. What safety features are in each room (grab bar? pull cord? fall detection?)
9. How often are rounds done to check on residents? Is it different during the day and at night?
10. When rounds are done are they checking to see if residents need to use the bathroom or checking to see if their undergarments need to be changed?
11. Are residents able to age in place? If my loved one needs hospice, are they able to receive that service here?
12. How will we be notified of incidents that involve our loved one?
13. What is the staff turnover like at this facility?
14. What city, state or county boards are you regulated by?
15. How are meals served and does someone escort residents to the dining hall?
16. What measures does the facility take to ensure 24-hour security and supervision?
17. Are the same caregivers assigned to the same residents daily?
18. Do you have an in house DO/MD, Psychiatrist, dentist, and podiatrist? How often do they come?
19. If my loved one moves into this facility, how soon does my loved one see the doctor as a new resident?
20. Are there any restrictions on how many medications our loved one can be on for medication management at this facility?
21. Can we bring the medication in from our pharmacy? If so, is there an additional cost?
22. Are medications given at the same specific time every day or is it just sometime in the am, pm and evening?
23. When a resident passes, how long is the timeframe to move out and receive refund if they haven’t been there the full month?
24. Can we assemble furniture in the apartment?
25. Do you have flatbed or dolly we can use?
26. In the event of a fire, what’s the protocol?
27. Are dogs able to come and visit? (If you have a dog you want to bring)
28. What are visiting hours? Does the family get a code or key fob to enter and leave facility?
29. Are we notified if our loved one receives a visit from someone other than our immediate family?
30. Are we able to put people on a do not visit list?
31. Does our loved one need a hamper or laundry basket?
32. How often is the resident bathed, laundry done, and room cleaned? If a resident refuses to shower, how are they bathed?
33. Will our loved one get assistance with hearing aids, glasses, and tooth brushing/denture removal?
34. (If your loved one is in a hospital looking for placement) Is there a cost for you to do an assessment in the hospital? How long would it take before an assessment can be done?
35. (If your loved one is in a hospital looking for placement) Would you transport him here? If so, can one of us ride with him? Also, how is this transport typically paid since it isn’t normally considered an emergency transportation? Does insurance pay for a non-emergency transfer?
36. If our loved one is accepted to live here, how quickly can a move take place?
37. Do religious activities take place in house and what type?
38. If I want visit my loved one and have a meal with him/her/them, am I able to be served a meal or is that an extra charge?
39. Am I able to bring food to my loved one?
40. Am I able to take my loved out for visits?
41. How does your facility handle medical emergencies, behavioral challenges and behavioral changes?
42. If my loved one gets sent out to a hospital, which hospital do you use and how quickly is the family notified?
43. Are we allowed to have a camera in the room for our loved one’s safety that captures video and audio?

Memory Care Specific Questions

1. When residents have difficulty swallowing are you able to modify their diet or puree food?
2. What type of dementia training or certification does staff have?
3. How does staff work with a resident that is agitated?
4. When do we create a family care plan and how often is it reviewed with us?
5. Are incontinence products included in fees such as; pullups or diapers, wipes, barrier cream?

Note

• You can ask if you can try a meal at the facility to see what your loved one would be eating.
• Try to negotiate the price with the facility. The worst thing you can do is ask and they say no. If they negotiate price make sure you have the new price in writing signed/initialed by the person whom is approving the rate.
• This list is not exhaustive but a place for you to start. Feel free to add to this list. Or feel free to email me if you come up with other questions that were helpful in your search for an assisted living/memory care facility.

Feeling overwhelmed looking for a facility for your loved one? Schedule an appointment with Michelle by calling (702) 527-8362 or by emailing evokeinsighttherapy@gmail.com