Deciding to place your parent in an assisted living facility can be a difficult decision. Sometimes you are filled with guilt and you worry if a facility of this type is in the best interest of your parent. By making a wise choice, you can put your mind at ease. Review this checklist on how to choose an assisted care facility and it will make the process much easier.

Assisted living facilities are homes for elderly people 60 years and over who need some supervision but who aren’t yet ready to give up independence. They do not need 24 hour medical and supervision; they simply need some assistance with a few activities like bathing, dressing, and taking the proper medications.

If your parent fits this description, an assisted care facility is more than likely the right choice for you. But for complete peace of mind, make sure you take the time to choose the right facility.

Assisted living facilities aren’t regulated by the national government so regulation is left up to individual states. Some states do a better job than others in keeping up the standards of these facilities.

Here are some question you need to ask and things you need to be on the lookout for before you commit to any type of agreement with an assisted living facility.

• When you visit the facility, does the staff seem happy to be there? This is important. You want your parent to be surrounded by people who are happy to help them and who make them feel wanted.

• How many staff members are there for each shift?

• Is the number of staff adequate to take care of the number of elderly that are living there? You don’t want the staff to be overworked or your parent won’t get good treatment and the very assistance they are paying for may not be available.

• How is the food? Visit the facility during meals to see for yourself. As people get older, they often lose their appetite and need meals that are appealing to get them to eat enough. Make sure the food is tasty and appealing.

• Does the facility have activities for the residents? You parent needs to stay active and have plenty of time to meet other people their age. Make sure there is plenty for them to do so they don’t spend their time sitting in their room.

• Are pets allowed?

• What are the restrictions concerning pets. You may want your parent to be able to take their beloved dog with them, but check to see if there is a limit to the size of animals that are allowed in the facility. You don’t want a Mastiff living next door to your 80-pound mother.

• Is the facility clean? Cleanliness is important, not only for hygiene, but it gives an indication about how much the staff cares for the facility and the people that live there. If they aren’t interested in taking care of the physical building, chances are they won’t be interest in taking care of your parent either.

• Do a background check on the facility. See if there are any outstanding complaints that have been filed, why they were filed, and how they were handled.

• Ask about costs – what is included in the total fee and what your parent will need to pay for beyond that.

By asking these questions and checking out several facilities thoroughly, you can choose the best assisted living facility for your parent and have the peace of mind that they are being well-cared for.