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Retirement Connection Guide • 1-800-462-1316
Housing Assisted Living Resources

These steps should also be considered:
Licensing requirements for assisted
living facilities vary by state and can be
known by as many as 26 different names  Contact your state’s long-term care
ombudsman to see if any complaints
including: residential care, board and have been filed against the assisted
care, congregate care, and personal living community you are interested
care. A complete list of each state’s in. In many states, the ombudsman
terminology and state regulations can checks on conditions at assisted living
be found at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/ units and nursing homes.
Reports/04alcom.htm
 If the assisted living community is
Choosing A Community
connected to a nursing home, ask for
A good match between a community and information about it, too. (Information
a resident’s needs depends as much on on nursing homes can be found on
the philosophy and services as it does on the Medicare website at http://www.
the quality of care. medicare.gov/nhcompare/home.asp).

The following suggestions can help you Source: www.eldercare.gov/eldercare/
get started in your search for a safe and Public/resources/fact_sheets/assisted_
appropriate assisted living community: living.asp

 What are your future needs and how Due to the large number of Adult Foster
will the community meet those needs? Homes, not all are listed in this guide.

 Is the community close to family This link provides a complete list:
and friends? Are there any shopping https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/
centers or other businesses nearby Lookup/AFHAdvLookup.aspx
(within walking distance)?
Article provided by:
 Visit each community more than once, Retirement Connection Staff
sometimes unannounced. www.RetirementConnection.com
 Visit at meal times, sample the food,
and observe the quality.
 Observe interactions among residents
and staff and ask questions.
 Ask about social, recreational, and
spiritual activities.
 Ask about the type and frequency
of staff trainings.
 Review state licensing reports.
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