Before your loved one moves into an assisted living community, you have many important decisions to make regarding the right choice for your family member(s). Obvious criteria that you’ll be certain to consider include proximity to you or other family members, distance to quality healthcare facilities, the availability of specialized rehabilitation skills, community cleanliness and impressions of residents’ hygiene and happiness.
One other factor merits your close attention as well: the assisted living community’s staff. Your mom and/or dad or other loved one will be spending significant amounts of time with people who may help with bathing, ambulation, eating, medication, and other key daily tasks of living. In addition, these are likely the folks who will communicate most frequently with your loved one. You want to ensure the staff is friendly, kind, supportive, optimistic, and responsible.
As you begin your assisted living community visits and interviews, be sure to talk to all the staff members you can. Don’t rely on what residents may share, as they could be afraid to offer criticism. Here are 6 ways to assess the staff:
#1. Do you have time to ask questions and have a non-rushed conversation?
You have lots of questions, and you need answers from the people who will be interacting directly with your mom or dad. If staff seems hurried or anxious to get the interview over, then you may wonder if that behavior translates to the care that your loved one will receive. Are they genuinely interested in you, your loved one(s), and your questions?
#2. Do staff seem empowered and motivated by a deep connection to the people they serve?
Studies have shown that staff who are well-trained and empowered to do their job are likely to stay on the job longer and have a higher level of job satisfaction. The assisted living community’s executive director (ED) is ultimately in charge of creating and modeling the behaviors and practices that lead to a motivated and caring staff; make sure you interview the ED during your decision process.
#3. Did you like the employees with whom you spoke?
Sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling about people, so trust your instincts when interviewing staff. Do they have a pleasant demeanor or does it seem forced? Do they look you in the eye when talking to you? Are they well-groomed themselves? Do they smile when they don’t know you’re watching?
#4. What sort of staff-resident interaction occurs?
Do they interact warmly with residents? They must know them by name and treat them with compassion and respect. Good staff knows when to step in and when to respect the resident’s need for privacy.
#5. Are they open about how the community is run?
Make sure staff members talk freely and knowledgeably about activities and policies that exist at the assisted living community. Reluctance to share information, or ignorance about procedures, is a definite red flag.
#6. Do they thoroughly understand emergency procedures?
Nothing is more frightening than the idea of your elderly loved one being trapped in a fire or not rapidly helped after a fall. Ask staff to explain how they handle emergencies, both medical and facility-related. Request examples of specific incidences and how they were dealt with.
After you visit your “finalists” multiple times, you’ll feel confident in selecting an assisted living community that’s the best fit for your loved one. What experiences have you had in interviewing staff and what criteria were most important in your decision?
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