Leaving the home you have been in for years is difficult. However, if an assisted living facility provides a variety of services and amenities, it can significantly help the transition to a new environment. The key is to match your loved one’s current personality and interests to the services that would be most beneficial. For example, an assisted living community offering a pool, tennis courts, or a community center will only benefit you or your loved one if you actually swim, play tennis, or throw parties.

Conversely, if you or your loved one no longer drive, then an assisted living community with transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and excursions would be very useful. So, with respect to services and amenties, consider a wide array of possibilities including activities, opportunities for socialization, visiting hours and policies, dining options, housekeeping and maintenance services, transportation, safety, and “special touches.”

• Ask for a copy of the assisted living’s activity calendar.
• Find out how often the activities change or how the community incorporates resident suggestions into the activities.
• Does the community offer both onsite and offsite activities?
• Do the activities address your social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs?
• Do volunteers or family members get involved in running some activities?
• What are the policies regarding visitors?
• Can you have guests in your apartment and for what length of stay?
• Can you and your guests use the common areas in addition to your apartment to socialize?
• What times of day or night can you receive visitors?
• Does the assisted living facility have a process for checking visitors who come and go a the community?