Problem

Often, I answer phone calls from children who fear they will place their loved one in an unfit Adult Family Home. As a result, these seniors do not receive proper care or housing. Seniors suffer because their children, and loved ones, are too afraid of making the wrong decision. While proceeding cautiously is important, waiting until disaster strikes is incredibly dangerous.

Without the proper knowledge you, the adult child, will likely tour Adult Family Homes without resources or guidance. This will either result in the above scenario: your beloved senior does not have a safe place to call home. Or contrarily, they move into an unfit care home. In either case, your elderly loved one does not receive proper care and their health is at risk.

Solution

Although touring Adult Family Homes may feel challenging, and at times impossible, if you seek guidance you will be successful.

In fact, I can provide that guidance! Having toured well over one hundred care facilities, and given some six hundred tours in my own care homes, allow me to help you focus on the most important factors, and offer expert questions and strategies to recognize the correct answers when you hear them.

By reading this article and preparing your own questions, I am confident you will place your loved one in a perfect-fit Adult Family Home.

Breaking It Down

You may be asking yourself: “What do I look for in the Adult Family Homes I tour?” or “What specific questions should I ask?”

Read the top seven touring considerations below to gain the answers to your questions.

Top Seven Considerations:

1. Skill Level and Future Care

A quality AFH should…

• Have owners and staff whose care credentials and education meet or exceed industry and state standards.
• Provide the level of care your loved one requires now and in the future.
• Be able to accommodate your loved one’s specific needs and preferences.
• Have clear procedures established for managing and distributing medications.
• Be able to answer questions like: “How would you handle [INSERT CARE CHALLENGE HERE]?”

2. Home Composition and Resident Compatibility

A quality AFH should…

• Have a resident population compatible with your loved one’s cognitive status.
• Provide an environment where new relationships can flourish.
• Employ staff who interact and connect with residents.

3. Safety and Security

A quality AFH should…

• Employ staff who are able to communicate clearly with residents, family, and 911 in case of emergency.
• Be furnished with the resident’s safety and preference in mind.
• Be equipped with handrails, raised toilet seats, and sit-down shower benches.
• Have a simple and functional system in place to allow residents to call for help.

4. Location and Convenience 

A quality AFH should…

• Be easily accessible for you to drop-in and visit.
• Be located near the hospital.
• Contract with a visiting primary care physician, podiatrist, and other medical professionals.
• Be equipped to reorder medications, run specimens to a lab, and purchase care items such as incontinence briefs.

5. Licensing, State Encumbrances, and References 

A quality AFH should…

• Be properly licensed by the state, and be free of licensing encumbrances or enforcement letters. Washington State has three specialty certifications: Mental Health Specialty, Dementia Specialty, and Developmental Disabilities Specialty.

6. State Surveys

• Regardless of the type of long-term care facility, you desire you can view a copy of their annual State Survey. Facilities are required to develop a “plan of correction” to address any deficiencies discovered during their annual State Survey.

7. Finances

• Price Estimate: The Provider should supply a price estimate within your budget and spanning a narrow range — the final price, after due diligence, should be firm.
• Care Fee: Inquire about the method the Adult Family Home uses to determine your care fee. Some Adult Family Homes use a monthly or a daily rate based on room selection and level of care needs. A few use a flat monthly rate, which is often higher than average.
• Move-in Fees or Security Deposits: Allot $350-$450 dollars for the initial DSHS-Compliant Long-Term Care Assessment. Additionally, add $200 to $300 annually for assessment updates. Finally, understand which part of your security and other deposits will be refunded.
• Refund Policy: Clarify the financial implications if your loved one relocates — there are no industry standards so this will vary with each provider.

8. Medicaid Policy

Ask the AFH Provider:

What is your policy for accepting Medicaid or transferring to Medicaid payment at a later date?

Is there a minimum stay before you will retain us after we convert to Medicaid?

Will my loved one have to change rooms, wings or facilities after transferring to Medicaid?