Questions You Should Ask

○	Does the building look clean and neat?

○	Overall, do things look to be in good repair?

○	Is the entrance area pleasant and inviting?  Is the décor appropriate, is it home-like or is it institutional looking (hospital-like or a hotel lobby)?

○	Are there common areas available for socializing and entertaining?     Is there a secluded place to be with family members if you desire to do so?

○	Are there outdoor living areas for use in the warmer months?  A shady porch or a gazebo, maybe a garden bench?

○	Are there flower gardens?  Vegetable gardens?  Statues, a reflection pool, a water fountain or a waterfall?

○	Is the building adequately heated, air conditioned, ventilated?

○	Are the views from resident’s rooms pleasant and soothing?

○	Is there any unpleasant odor?  If so, is it confined to a specific area, or is it generally present throughout the facility?

○	Are the layout and building amenities conducive to providing the unique care environment that is needed to successfully serve a resident who is living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of Dementia?

○	Is the building well lighted?  Is there adequate natural lighting to make it seem bright and cheerful?

○	Are resident rooms and common areas well lighted and cheery as well?

○	What safety and security measures are employed to ensure the continued well-being of residents?

○	How or who supervises the welfare of the residents?

○	Is there an emergency call system in place?

○	Is the building and its residents protected with smoke detectors, a fire alarm and a “whole house” fire suppression (sprinkler) system?     Is the system monitored by a 24 hours per day from a remote location?

○	Is furniture provided or must you bring your own?  Who maintains furniture?

○	Would you be permitted to (or even encouraged to) bring in personal items and/or furniture for your loved one?

○	Do the residents look contented and well cared for?

○	Are the residents appropriately dressed and groomed?

○	Would it be possible to talk to the family of 1 or 2 current or past residents?

○	Do the current residents make eye contact with you?     If you offer a greeting to someone, did they acknowledge you, did they return it?

○	Were you greeted by a staff member when you arrived to visit?     Does it seem that other visitors are greeted appropriately?

○	Do you see residents and staff smiling?     Does staff seem to have a personal connection with the residents?     Do you see staff holding a hand, rubbing a shoulder, hugging and/or talking directly to the residents?

○	Ask a staff member if they recognize the term “Person Centered Care”, and if this is practiced at this facility.     If the answer is yes, ask them to tell you how Person Centered Care is provided at this facility.

○	Ask about the care staff to resident ratio on all shifts?     How many residents does each care staff member take responsibility for?     How does it work if they need help in order to safely assist a resident, say, for a transfer from a wheel chair to the couch?

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Ask about staff training.     Phrase your question to ask for more specific information like:  “What kinds of training are provided for staff?”   “Who is the instructor for the training?”  “Is training mandatory or is it voluntary?”  “Are employees tested for retention and comprehension after training programs?”  “Is there training that is specific for knowledge and skills related to caring for persons living with memory loss?”  Ask for a couple of specific titles or topics.

○	Ask if residents are prompted to leave their room each day.  Are they encouraged to participate in daily activities, to be social and to be part of the “community”?

○	Ask about visiting hours.  Are there times or days that are not recommended?

○	Do staff wear name tags so that residents, family members and visitors can know who they are talking to or about?

○	Are activity schedules posted for the upcoming week/month?  May family members participate with a loved one for a planned activity?

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What sort of planned activities are typical of this facility?  Exercises and stretching?  Physical games like badminton, ring toss, catch, balloon bounce, Wii bowling or golf?  Are there board games, card games, puzzles, dominoes, checkers, bingo, fill in the blank, name that tune and sing-alongs?  What about crafts, baking, holiday decorating, or arranging floral displays?

○	Are there any programs to assist and/or encourage the residents to enjoy tending to a garden and participating in the harvest?

○	Are there special events; are they for residents only or for resident’s families too?

○	Is there a music program?  Are there ever live musicians?  Do they use recorded music on tape or CD?  Are there sing-alongs either to live music or to recorded tunes?  What about old shows on TV, on tape or on DVD?

○	Are there planned activities that promote interaction between the residents, young people and children?

○	Does the activity calendar include any religious services?  How often and what kind?

○	Does the facility keep any pets (dog, cat, birds, fish, other)?  Can a family member bring in a pet to visit a loved one?

○	Does the facility have a collection of indoor plants for everyone to enjoy and appreciate?

○	How does the facility recognize and celebrate resident’s birthdays?

○	Is there a strict schedule for meal service times?

○	Do the residents have options for alternate meals in the event that they do not like what is on the menu?  How does this work?

○	Can the facility accommodate special diets?  Low salt?  Diabetic?  Vegetarian?  Mechanical soft?

○	Can a family member or a guest accompany a resident for a meal?  Is there a cost for this?

○	Are meals served in a large group setting?  In small groups?  Individually in residents own room?

○	What percentage of the food is prepared from scratch?  What kinds of foods are preprocessed (heat and serve)?

○	Are fresh fruit and vegetables served on a regular basis?

○	Ask what kinds of desserts might be served over the course of a month.

○	Are snacks available in between scheduled meal times?

○	How does the facility ensure that the resident’s stay properly hydrated?

○	Are menus posted for scheduled meal service?

○	How does the facility know if residents’ nutritional needs are being met?

○	Are dietary supplements utilized to help ensure proper nutrition?

○	Is the facility licensed by the State of Michigan?     If yes, then what level or classification of license is held?     What does this mean to the resident and their family?     Is this considered to be a “residential care facility” or is it a “medical care facility”?

○	What level of memory loss disease is this facility capable of serving?     Early stage?     Middle stage?     Late stage?     End of life?     What percentage of the residents who come to this facility elect to stay until the end?

○	What kind of situation could result in a resident being permanently discharged from this facility?

○	Are the service plans offered in this facility specialized to focus exclusively on supporting individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and/or other forms of memory loss disease?

○	Does the facility manage medications for the residents?     Where do prescriptions come from?     Is there an institutional pharmacy of does a family member have to fill them at a local pharmacy or through mail order?     How does the facility work with a resident’s prescription insurance plan?

○	Does the facility prepare a written Plan of Care for each resident?     Who is responsible for this function and when is it created?

○	Does the facility have the capability to write and then oversee a written Behavior Care Plan?     Do all residents have a Behavior Care Plan in addition to their normal Plan of Care?

○	Does the facility have a licensed nurse on staff?

○	Ask how much assistance is available for help with activities of daily living?

○	If a resident is experiencing incontinence of bladder and/or bowels, how is this addressed?     If adult undergarments are needed who provides them?

○	What are residents allowed to do for themselves?

○	Does the facility provide pillows, bed linens, blankets, bed spreads, other?

○	Ask about housekeeping and laundry services.     How often is housekeeping service performed?     How often is laundry service provided?  Is laundry service located in the building or off-site?

○	Is there Beauty/Barber Shop on-site?     Is there a cost for this service?

○	How does this facility handle routine health care appointments?     For the:  Geriatric Physician?      Geriatric Psychiatrist?     Podiatrist?     Dentist?     Other specialties?

○	Is there a means of transportation available for residents who need to go out for a doctor appointment?     Is this service provided by the facility?

○	If a resident must go out for a doctor appointment, is it possible for a care team member to accompany him/her?     Is there a cost for this?

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Ask about the cost and fees for the various service plans offered by the facility?     Is there a document that clearly details the costs associated with staying in this facility?     What kind of costs are “included” in the published prices?     What kind of services might incur extra costs?     Is there an “entry fee”?

○	Ask about billing practices?     What is the billing cycle?     When are payments due?

○	Are there any financial assistance resources available to help a family pay for services at this facility?

○	Is Hospice care available through this facility?

○	Are short term medical care services available at this facility through a Home Health Care provider?

○	Are rehabilitation therapies available at this facility through a Home Health Care provider?