Residential Facility Checklist

Look at daily life:

• Do residents seem to enjoy being with staff?
• Are residents clean and well groomed?
• Are most residents dressed for the season and tome of day?
• Do staff members address residents by name?
• Do staff members respond quickly to residents' calls for assistance?
• Are activities tailored to residents' individual needs?
• Are residents involved in a variety of appropriate activities?
• Do staff makes a concerted effort to interact socially with residents?
• Are personal food likes and dislikes or special diets taken into consideration?
• Are snacks available? Does the facility serve food attractively?
• Does the residence use care in selecting roommates?
• How are "difficult" behaviors handled?
• Does the facility have a family council? If it does, how does the council influence decisions about resident life?
• Does the facility provide special activities; music, art, pet therapies, etc.?
• Are religious services offered?
• Are cultural needs met?
• Is transportation provided for outings/medical appointments?

Look at the care residents receive:

• Do various staff and professional experts participate in evaluating each resident's needs and interests?
• Does the facility allow you to make "special requests"?
• Does the resident or his or her family participate in developing the resident's care plan?
• Are family members able to participate in daily care?
• Does the facility offer programs to restore lost physical functioning (for example: physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy)?
• Is there an additional cost? If so, how much?
• Does the residence have any special services that meet your needs? (Is there effective Alzheimer's Care?)
• Is a registered nurse available for nursing staff? If there enough staff?
• How are medications administered and safeguarded?
• Does the residence have an arrangement with a nearby hospital?

Look at how the facility handles finances:

• Is the facility certified for Medicaid?
• Is the resident or the resident's family informed when charges are increased?
• Is the cost comparable to other facilities in the area?

Look at the environment:

Is the outside of the residence clean and in good repair

• Is the outside of the residence clean and in good repair?
• Are the outside areas accessible for residents to use? Are they secure?
• Is the inside of the facility clean and in good repair?
• Are there handrails in the hallways and grab bars in bathrooms?
• When floors are being cleaned, are warning signs displayed or areas blocked off to prevent accidents?
• Is the facility free from unpleasant odors?
• Are toilets convenient to bedrooms?
• Do noise levels fit the activities that are going on?
• Is it easy for residents in wheelchairs to move around the residence? Inside and out?
• Is the lighting appropriate for what residents are doing?
• Are there private areas for residents to visit with family, visitors, or physicians?
• What are the visiting hours?
• Are residents' bedrooms furnished in a pleasant manner? Are residents encouraged to furnish rooms with their own furniture?
• Do the residents have some personal items in their bedrooms (for example: family pictures, souvenirs, and a favorite chair?
• Do the residents' rooms have accessible storage areas for personal items?
• How are the residents with dementia treated compared to other residents?
• Is the outside of the residence clean and in good repair?
• Are the outside areas accessible for residents to use? Are they secure?
• Does the facility have a good reputation in the community?
• Does the residence have a list of references?
• Is the residence convenient for family or friends to visit?
• Does the local ombudsman visit the facility regularly? When was the last state or local inspection? What were the results?
• What is the facilities autopsy policy?
• What are the facility's policies for transfer and discharge?
• Are residents' rights discussed?
• How long can an Alzheimer's resident remain in the Special Care Unit? What additional impairments necessitate a move?
• Where in the facility are advanced Alzheimer's residents cared for?
• Tour the entire facility.

Source: Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter

Additional Checklist Items

• What is the staff to resident ratio during the day? At night? Does the ratio include nurses?
• Are staff awake at night? What is their schedule for checking residents?
• If staff sleeps at night, where do they sleep? How do they hear residents?
• What dementia specific training does the staff receive? On what topics?
• What on-going dementia training does the staff receive? On what topics?
• Who supervises the staff that is interacting with Alzheimer's persons? What is the supervisor's background and/or training?
• After a formal tour of the facility tell the marketing person that you would like to sit quietly in a corner and observe staff/resident interactions. Do it by yourself and with no distractions.
• When starting a conversation, do staff look the resident directly in the eyes and call them by name?
• Do staff speak s-l-o-w-l-y and softly to residents with dementia?
• Do staff seem relaxed or rushed in interacting with dementia residents?
• Do staff smile when interacting with dementia residents?
• Can residents go outside without supervision or does a staff member accompany them?

Source: Dick Page: Catharine's Quality of Life Homes