Are you looking for an assisted living situation for your loved one? If so, you know how difficult it can be to find the right fit.

You want to make sure that your loved one is left in the best hands. It can give you peace of mind when you’re away, also lowering your guilt for not being able to be there for them around the clock.

Finding the right facility means talking to nurses, finding a high-quality assisted living staff, and so much more. See below for questions to ask to find assisted living in Washington for your loved one.

1. Are They Trained to Tend to My Loved One’s Needs?

The whole reason that you’re looking for an assisted living facility in the first place is that your loved one can no longer take care of themself. They need someone with the proper amount of training and time to tend to them.

Perhaps they struggle with memory loss diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It might be that they can no longer walk or have severe diabetes. Whatever their struggles, you want to ensure the facility’s staff is properly trained to handle it.

Ask the facility about what kind of training their staff goes through in order to care for the patients. How often do they require them to retrain? Are the employees put through a background screening?

2. What Will It Cost?

Fortunately, in the District of Columbia, assisted living billing is covered by Medicaid which protects the wallets of the patient and their families. You no longer have to devise a combination of your loved one’s savings to pay for it.

However, you’ll still want to know what the cost is of the assisted living facility and whether or not it yields a high return on investment.

In a lot of ways, paying for assisted living is much like renting out an apartment. The annual fees tend to increase, there are other fees to consider, and it’s charged monthly.

But the cost can drastically change depending on your loved one’s situation. If they have a need for things such as memory care, then you can expect to pay more.

Make sure that you have a complete understanding of the billing process and the total charge. If the facility takes too long beating around the bush, then scratch them off your list and move on to the next one.

3. What Type of Apartments Do You Have?

Perhaps the most difficult part of this entire process is convincing your loved one that this transition is necessary. Odds are that they won’t agree to it right away.

However, the process can become much easier if you find a living situation that’s comparable to their current one. The setup of the apartment is always helpful, and having more options will make the process go much smoother.

Be sure to ask the facility what types of apartments that they have. Also, ask them their recommendations for your loved one’s situation.

In many cases, the apartment that you find will be a scaled-down version of their current home. They’ll have all the same luxuries in a smaller space, making it easier for them to move around.

4. What Amenities and Activities Do You Offer?

Of course, the setup of the apartment and the care they’ll receive aren’t the only two factors that should go into this decision. You also need to find a fair amount of activities and amenities that your loved one will thrive with.

If you don’t, then you’ll find yourself looking for a new assisted living facility as soon as their current lease is up.

Be sure to take the time and hear the facility explain what kind of meals they offer their residents for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The more meal options they offer, the better.

Next, you’ll want to see what amenities are offered to the residents such as a workout gym, pool, library, free space for social activities, etc. Also, make sure to inquire about the types of activities that they offer.

This could be things like puzzles, book clubs, yoga classes, workout classes, walking clubs, gardening, art, education courses, and so on. Factor in whether the activities they offer line up with your loved one’s personality and hobbies.

5. Do You Have Nurses Around the Clock?

Unfortunately, at their age, an emergency can happen with your elderly loved one at the drop of a hat. That might be during the day or night. Many places don’t have nurses on staff after business hours.

You’ll want to make sure that the facility you place your loved one in has nurses around the clock.

That way, if something were to happen, they would be able to administer medication, manage medical needs, perform tests, and tend to them until an ambulance arrived.

Also, for security reasons, you’ll want to learn more about what staff they have available during the night shift. Is there a security guard on staff? How many? Are any other staff members on the night shift? Have they undergone background screenings?

These questions can help you assess if the assisted living facility seems to go the extra mile with having staff readily available for their residents or not.

Find the Right Assisted Living in Washington D.C. For Your Loved One

Now that you’ve seen several questions to ask assisted living in Washington D.C., it’s time for you to find the right fit.

Be sure to read this article for more information on 5 important assisted living facts you might not have known.

For more inquiries, please start by taking a digital tour of our facility and we’ll be happy to assist you further!