Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Do be aware that EVERY facility has its own "atmosphere", or "culture", if you prefer. We investigated 8 different senior facilities near us for my MIL, and every single one was distinctly different from the others. Only YOU can decide what's important to you and what suits you best. There are no federal guidelines, outside of health/safety or licensing regulations, that govern senior living facilities.
Management can set up what rules, staffing, activities, amenities, etc., are offered, and those can be changed without residents' input. You are essentially a renter, not an owner, so always review the legal contracts carefully, with professional advice if at all possible.
Always ask about future scenarios, especially if you are a couple deciding where to go. How does the facility handle the financial end of one spouse needing SCN/Memory Care but the other wants to move to a smaller unit rather than keep the original larger unit? What is the policy for residents who run out of funds? With the Medicaid cutbacks, I would expect a number of facilities to close. Rural areas will be especially vulnerable.
Updated link: 2025 US News Sr Lvg Options
Spouse is very fond of the senior facility we selected for his mother. It showed up under the Search function and its rating seemed accurate and fair to us (my MIL died some years ago, but we still keep in touch with the facility and donate annually). I was happy to see it rated very well; one of the strongest reasons we approved of this facility is that according to state records (something one should also check), it has one of the lowest staff turnover rates in the entire state.
Do as much research as possible BEFORE you need to move. Those glossy PR brochures and enthusiastic sales pitches are no different than TV ads telling you the way to a happy home is their new whiz-bang air freshener, or that buying that fancy new car is going to transform you into Cary Grant or Sophia Loren, LOL. In fact, most facilities pay for outside sales help from health management companies or independent consultants - such sales reps aren't actually part of the facility staff at all.
Management can set up what rules, staffing, activities, amenities, etc., are offered, and those can be changed without residents' input. You are essentially a renter, not an owner, so always review the legal contracts carefully, with professional advice if at all possible.
Always ask about future scenarios, especially if you are a couple deciding where to go. How does the facility handle the financial end of one spouse needing SCN/Memory Care but the other wants to move to a smaller unit rather than keep the original larger unit? What is the policy for residents who run out of funds? With the Medicaid cutbacks, I would expect a number of facilities to close. Rural areas will be especially vulnerable.
Updated link: 2025 US News Sr Lvg Options
Spouse is very fond of the senior facility we selected for his mother. It showed up under the Search function and its rating seemed accurate and fair to us (my MIL died some years ago, but we still keep in touch with the facility and donate annually). I was happy to see it rated very well; one of the strongest reasons we approved of this facility is that according to state records (something one should also check), it has one of the lowest staff turnover rates in the entire state.
Do as much research as possible BEFORE you need to move. Those glossy PR brochures and enthusiastic sales pitches are no different than TV ads telling you the way to a happy home is their new whiz-bang air freshener, or that buying that fancy new car is going to transform you into Cary Grant or Sophia Loren, LOL. In fact, most facilities pay for outside sales help from health management companies or independent consultants - such sales reps aren't actually part of the facility staff at all.
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