If you are thinking of a move to assisted living for yourself or a family member, how do you know the most important questions to ask? What key information will tell you whether a particular assisted-living program is right for you or your loved one? How do you choose from among the many options available? Although you should think about your own needs and preferences and develop your own questions, the questions below focus on some key concerns that many consumers feel are important in making an informed decision on assisted living.

Rent and Other Fees

· What is the rent or monthly fee? If my need for services stays about the same, how much should I expect to pay in the next year toward rent or monthly fees?

· How often does the rent increase? What have the rent increases been over the past two years?

· What services are included in the rent or monthly fee?

· What services cost an additional amount, and what are those fees?

· How often do these additional fees increase, and how much have these fees increased over the past two years?

· How much notice will I get before the rent or other fees goes up?

· What kind of payments are accepted? Private insurance? Medicaid? Medicare? Other? Can my family help pay for my services?

· If meals are included in the rent, do I have to pay for meals that I don't eat?

· Do I have to pay for rent or services for times that I'm away, for example, out of town or in a hospital or nursing home?

· What additional costs above the rent or fees discussed should I plan on?

· What happens if I run out of money?

Services Available

· What is the meal plan? Is there a choice of menu items? Can my family join me for a meal? What is the cost?

· Who decides what services I need? What if I disagree? What if I can't pay for these services? Can I refuse to take services you think I should have?

· Can I include a family member in discussions about my services? Will you have regular meetings about the services I need with my family and me?

· Who decides when my services will be scheduled? What if I want to make a change in the schedule?

· What types of staff provide these services? What type of training is provided to various types of staff? Who supervises the staff and how often?

· Are caregivers in the building round-the-clock? Can I get help any time, day or night? How do I call for help?

· When is a licensed nurse in the building?

· Are there services I might need that you don't provide? Can I hire someone else to provide these services?

· Do you provide special services for those with memory loss? If so, what are those special services?

· Do you serve people who wander or have behavior problems? How do you handle these problems?

Moving Out

· If I decide to move out, for example, to another assisted living or to a nursing home, how much notice do I have to give?

· If I have to go to the hospital or a nursing home for a while, can my room be held for me?

· Can you ask me to move out? Why would you ask someone to move out of the building?

· If I need to move, does anyone help me find a new place to live? How much time will I have to make these arrangements?

Other Questions

· Who can help me if I have a problem or complaint? What if I'm not satisfied with the response?

· If I have to share a room, who picks my roommate? What if we don't get along? What if I need some privacy for family visits or when I'm receiving services?

· Can I lock my door or protect my personal things? How is my medication safeguarded?

· What other safety measures does the building provide?

You should be able to find answers to most of these questions in the assisted-living provider's housing-with-services contract, lease, or other written documents. Be sure to ask to see these materials and review them with the provider.

Who Can Help Consumers with Problems?

Consumers with a problem dealing with a home care or assisted-living provider have a variety of sources they can turn to for help:

· Talk to your housing manager, home care, or assisted-living provider about the problem. If you are unsure who to talk to, check your lease, contract, or service agreement regarding the provider’s complaint process. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Office of Ombudsman can intervene and act as an advocate for elderly persons. This office may be contacted at (651) 296-0382 or toll free at (800) 657-3591.

· Minnesota consumers with concerns about the services provided by a home care provider or assisted-living program may also contact Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Health Facility Complaints at (651) 215-8713 or (800) 369-7994 (toll-free statewide).

Consumers and their families will also find helpful consumer information on the Senior Care Connections web site, a service of the Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance, which is the source of this Care Page.

For further information on assisted living, contact:

· Minnesota Department of Health web site for a listing of registered housing-with-services establishments found in the "licensed and Certified Health Care Facilities and Services Directory."