Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
Choosing an assisted living facility is a big decision. Whether you decide for yourself or a loved one, you want to find a new home that meets all your clinical, financial and lifestyle needs.
Here are BBB’s tips for researching assisted living facilities and finding the best option for you:
- Get recommendations. Start with trust and check out BBB Accredited assisted living facilities in your area. Ask friends, family, and your doctor what assisted living facilities in the area they would recommend. If someone you know lives in an assisted living facility, ask them how they like it. Their experience can give you insight into what facilities have the best reputation in your local area. You can also use the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), to consult with your local agency on aging for information on trusted assisted living centers.
- Consider your needs. Residents in assisted living facilities usually need help with some basic activities of daily living. These basic activities include bathing, dressing, eating, and getting around. A few assisted living communities specialize in caring for people with specific conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The level of care assisted living facilities offer can vary greatly, so consider how much assistance you need and go from there.
- Consider the cost. Medicare doesn’t cover assisted living costs, which is why most people pay with private funds even though it’s costly. If you need help paying for assisted living, speak with a financial advisor. Assisted living staff may also be aware of local resources and assistance programs you can use to help lessen the costs.
- Ask a long-term care ombudsperson for advice. Find your state’s long-term care ombudsman program for more information about assisted living facilities in your area. Your local ombudsperson can help you investigate facilities and get to know their track record.
- Be observant when you visit the facility. As you tour a facility, keep your eyes open to the cleanliness, activities, safety features, available common areas, how friendly the staff is, and how healthy and happy the residents seem. Be bold and ask any residents you meet about their experience. Make a checklist and ask plenty of questions.
- Carefully review contracts. It’s easy to skim long, wordy documents, but it’s critical to always read assisted living contracts from start to finish. Keep an eye out for unexpected fees or deposits, so you won’t have any surprises when your first bill arrives. In addition, pay attention to the rules regarding discharging or evicting a resident, late, or missed payments, and how the facility handles (or limits) your rights to file a lawsuit should something go awry.
Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
