Alzheimer's Disease Health Center

Assisted Living Facilities for Alzheimer's Disease

Assisted Living Residents and Atmosphere

• Do residents of the assisted-living community socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable?
• Do residents, visitors, and volunteers speak favorably about the facility?
• Do the residents seem to be appropriate housemates for you or your loved one?

Assisted-Living Facility Design

• Do you like the appearance of the building and its surroundings?
• Is the decor attractive and home-like?
• Is the floor plan easy to follow?
• Do doorways, hallways, and rooms accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
• Are elevators available?
• Are handrails available to aid in walking?
• Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?
• Are carpets secured and floors made of a non-skid material?
• Is there good natural and artificial lighting?
• Is the residence clean, odor free, and appropriately heated and cooled?

Assisted Living and Medication, Health Care

• What is the assisted living residence's policy regarding storage of medicines, assistance with medicines, and medicine record-keeping?
• Are residents allowed to manage their own medication? 
• Who coordinates visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other specialist, if needed?
• Does a doctor or nurse visit the residents regularly to provide medical checkups?

Assisted Living Services

Is the assisted-living staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living, if needed? Do daily activities include:

• Dressing
• Eating
• Mobility
• Hygiene and grooming
• Bathing, bathroom, and incontinence assistance
• Using the telephone
• Shopping
• Laundry
• Housekeeping in unit
• Transportation to doctors, hairdresser, or other activities

Features of Individual Assisted-Living Units

• Are different sizes and types of units available at the assisted-living facility?
• Are units for single and double occupancy available?
• Do residents have their own lockable doors?
• Is a 24-hour emergency response system accessible from the unit?
• Are bathrooms private? Do they accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
• Can residents bring their own furnishings? What may they bring?
• Do all units have a telephone and cable television? How is billing handled for these services?
• Is a kitchen area/unit provided with a refrigerator, sink, and cooking element?
• May residents keep food in their units?
• May residents smoke in their units? May they smoke in public areas?

Socializing and Recreation at an Assisted-Living Facility

• Is there an activities program at the assisted-living facility?
• Do residents participate in a neighboring community's activities?
• Do volunteers, including family members, come into the residence to conduct or help with programs?
• Does the facility require residents to undertake any chores or perform specific activities that benefit all residents?
• Are residents' pets allowed in the unit? Who is responsible for pet care?
• Does the residence have its own pets?

Assisted Living and Food Service

• Does the assisted-living residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week?
• Are snacks available?
• May residents request special foods?
• Are common dining areas available?
• May residents eat meals in their units?
• May meals be provided at times the resident prefers or are there set meal times?