Assisted living facilities can offer different levels of assistance, from minimal to comprehensive. When choosing an ALF it is important to ask about the level of care the ALF provides, so that you will receive the services you need. Also, the number and types of services can determine the total monthly cost of care. Some ALFs offer specially designed environments for Alzheimer's/Dementia and other memory-impaired patients.

The assisted living facility's staff will manage the resident's care, including ongoing assessments of the resident's needs and health monitoring. ALF staff will coordinate and assist the resident to gain access to needed medical services, as well as mental health, social, educational, and other services. They will also monitor and evaluate the delivery of services. The resident can contract with a third party, like a home health agency or a nurse registry, to provide nursing and other medical services to the resident when needed, as long as the resident's health does not require more care than can be provided in an ALF. The ALF can assist the resident in arranging for such nursing care.

Choosing the right ALF:

• Staffing: How much qualified staff is available each shift to provide personal care, resident supervision and to provide or arrange for scheduled and unscheduled resident services?. What is the ratio of staff to residents?. Assisted living facility's employees are required to have various levels of training depending on their responsibilities. Are the caregivers friendly, respectful and ready to assist you?.
• Financial: Assisted living facilities are, usually, private pay. There are some additional sources that you can use to cover for part or all the assisted living care cost such as veteran benefits, long term care insurances, Medicaid Diversion( if you qualify).
• Cost: Find out price of a private or sharred room. Inquire about additional cost for caring for patients with Dementia/Alzheimer's. How often the monthly rate is increased and by what percentage?. Make sure that everything is mentioned in the contract before you sign it. Any assisted living facility is obligated to give you 30 days notice before any increase in the monthly rate. Is any additional charge for increase in level of care and how much?. What is included in the monthly rent and what services will require additional fees?
• Admission fee and Deposit: Some assisted living facilities may ask for a deposit and admission fees. If these are required, you should ask for the purpose of such fees, whether they are refundable, and, if so, under what circumstances. Most facilities have a policy in place.
• Accommodations: Assisted living facilities offer different type of accommodations based on facility size. Larger ALFs could offer from apartments, to a room with private bathroom and kitchenette, to just a single or sharred room. Residential assisted living facilities( 6 beds or less), most of the time, have only single or sharred rooms with sharred bathrooms. Do the rooms or apartments have telephone access and cable TV and is there an additional charge for the services?. Ask if the rooms/apartments come furnished or unfurnished, if you can bring your own furniture and wall decorations. Is the assisted living facility easy to get around in?. Larger facilities with long hallways and/or multiple levels can be very confusing to patients with dementia and/or Alzheimer's and difficult to access to patients with ambulatory problems. A smaller facility is more suitable for these type of residents. Security and fire safety is very important in assisted living as well. Inquire about smoke detectors, fire sprinkler system and door alarms. Ask about smoking, pet, parking and visiting hours policy.
• Services: Ask about services provided in the facility and which services may require additional cost. There are many other services provided by third party providers such as physicians, pharmacy, laboratory and X-ray, home health services, beautician and barber care. Is the facility going to arrange those services for you?. Some assisted living facilities allow their residents to benefit from hospice services and to "age in place". All assisted living facilities have a bed hold policy for patients that require hospitalization or physical rehabilitation. The patient's family is required to continue paying the assisted living facility to be able to hold the bed. Ask about "bed hold" policy.
• Meals: How many meals and snacks are provided each day?. Ask to see a copy of the menu and see if choices are always available. Most assisted living facilities are offering three meals and snacks per day. It is also important to know if the facility is offering special diets.
• Licensing: Every assisted living facility in Florida is licenced by the state and the license has to be posted in plain view. The "Resident Bill of Rights" must be posted in the ALF in a prominent place along with Long-Term Care Ombudsman poster. You must know where to call in case that you have a complaint.