Seeking guidance on how to assess senior/assisted living communities

[Anonymous]

Make sure they can afford it. Being close to you is very important, but only if they can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new Kensington assisted living facility in the Westbard development off River Road offers “couples care” meaning parents with differing care needs can be cared for together. In many facilities, this may not be offered. This is another factor to consider as you start checking out facilities.

Highly recommend - my parents are there now and it's incredibly how well cared for they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The place we chose had a really low rate of staff turnover. I casually asked the front desk person how long she'd been there and it was 15 years!! She then went on to tell me how long everyone else had been there. (This was a non-profit, annual apartment rental on a campus that also has memory care and skilled nursing)

You might find your parents don't qualify for a CCRC due to health issues. And my parents were surprised that there was a years-long waiting list when they finally agreed to move at age 81.

Would you mind sharing the name? I may need to get on the list now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know what kind of contract you're looking for (A, B, or C)
https://www.stoneridgelcs.com/blog/ccrc-contract-types/


Check for CARF accreditation

Go for the nonprofit, all other factors being equal

Absolutely look at the CARF ratings, and if they have nursing home care check if they eventually will take Medicaid if your parent should go through all their money. Medicaid / Medicare publishes star ratings. Read the reviews and as others said, visit! I’d avoid for-profit entities.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to all who have responded so far—I hadn’t checked recently and was thrilled to see so much helpful advice.

Hope folks will keep it coming!

[Anonymous]

Ingleside at Rock Creek is nice. Independent living has a decent waitlist. Kensington Park is also very nice, but won’t allow couples to live together in independent living if one of them has dementia..they have to go to memory care. Maplewood Park Place in Bethesda has nice independent living apts (it’s a coop and residents buy their apts).

[Anonymous]

My dad is at grand oaks and it’s been quite good. It has assisted living and memory care and is connected by tunnel ti Sibley hospital.


As others have mentioned, I think being close so that you can stop by easily and regularly is very important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kensington Park is also very nice, but won’t allow couples to live together in independent living if one of them has dementia..they have to go to memory care.

I'll note that they do have the memory care building on the same campus.

I have parents looking ahead at this situation, and when the one needs memory care, I want the other to be close enough to visit but able to have their own space to retreat to.

[Anonymous]

We learned a lot by talking to workers in the parking lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ingleside at Rock Creek is nice. Independent living has a decent waitlist. Kensington Park is also very nice, but won’t allow couples to live together in independent living if one of them has dementia..they have to go to memory care. Maplewood Park Place in Bethesda has nice independent living apts (it’s a coop and residents buy their apts).

OP here. I’m interested in Ingleside although the buy-in is really high. Do you have any idea of the costs for Kensington Park or Maplewood?

[Anonymous]

Not OP but following. My in laws live in the Midwest in independent living but we are seeing need for a step up in care and may try to move them here. One has memory issues but is physically reasonably sound. Other has physical issues but is mentally sharp. Looking for a place that will let them be together and has a continuum of care. NoVA.

[Anonymous]

I think you hit the important points. You do all the visits and only take your parents to the top two or three so it's not overwhelming. Ask to have a meal during the visit - they all did this for us no problem. Food is so important to a lot of seniors' happiness so don't overlook it. My parents settled on Brightview Alexandria and move in next week. The staff has been wonderful and partner with a moving company to assist in knowing what furniture will fit in the apartment.

Many places we visited have a two-year wait list for two bedroom apartments so just be aware of that in your timeline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look for a place with memory care in case you need it. They sound like they may need more than assisted living. “Assisted” is not very “assisted” ime.

This and surgery on an 80 year old can quick go way south. Anesthesia with old people is not something to be taken lightly, and they might wake up in full blown dementia. Kensignton has a good reputation. Not sure about the Westbard one, but the original in Old Town Kensington.