It’s important for you to meet with a wide variety of staff as you evaluate which assisted living community is the best choice for you or your loved one. When making appointments to visit the communities you’re interested in (and be sure to visit them more than once), advise the person doing the scheduling that you want to meet the admissions director, medical caregiving staff, activities director, physical therapist (if relevant to you or your loved one’s needs), chef, and, very importantly, the executive director (ED).
Why do we think that interviewing the executive director is so important? Because this individual is in essence the CEO of the assisted living community. The executive director has ultimate authority over all aspects of the community, reports the book By Families For Families Guide to Assisted Living. You need to get to know this person, for these reasons:
1. The buck stops at the ED’s office
There are certain situations that can’t be resolved by other staff members. If you have a sincere and open relationship with the ED, you more quickly resolve issues that can’t be resolved by general staff.
2. The ED establishes the care philosophy of the community
The executive director is the key to effectively implementing and maintaining the care standards and guiding philosophies of the community. For example, if the assisted living center includes memory care, it should follow a person-centered care model that is increasingly recognized as the best approach for dementia sufferers. These communities provide loved ones with state-of-the-art dementia care in a safe and professional environment. The executive director should have a deep and profound connection to helping the residents. You’ll run across executive directors that are all business. While it’s obviously important to take a business approach to the community, make sure this demeanor doesn’t come at the expense of the patience and compassion required to make the residents happy.
3. Staff performance is tied to the executive director’s management
The executive director is the individual who is ultimately responsible for modeling the practices that motivate and inspire staff. Study after study concludes that empowered staff leads to higher rates of retention and lower turnover, both of which are very important to maintaining a happy and healthy living environment for assisted living residents.
4. The ED is responsible for providing you with state health survey data
It is absolutely critical for you to ask to see recent state inspection survey results. The center is required to provide this information if asked. When you ask the ED for the most recent survey report, evaluate if it is provided without hesitation. If not, this is a huge red flag. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, when you do see the report, make sure it is dated within the last 9-15 months. If the assisted living community has received a citation in a particular service area, be sure to ask the ED about this area during your visit. Be cautious about selecting a community with a very high number of deficiencies compared to other centers in your area and in your state as a whole.
After repeated visits and conversations with the executive directors at the assisted living centers that make your “finalist” list, you will likely find one who you trust most and who you believe will provide the best care for you or your loved one. Tell us about your experiences in meeting with the executive director – what do you think is important to ask?
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