5 Steps to Choosing an Assisted Living Community
At The Annapolitan, we understand the challenges faced by families making care decisions for their senior loved ones. The decision to find help can be emotional – but necessary – for seniors and their families.
That’s why it’s important to be prepared. We recommend that families learn as much as possible about the care options available to them – including visiting communities – before having “the talk” with a senior loved one. Being able to answer a loved one’s questions thoroughly and confidently can help ease fears and uncertainty.
We’re here to make it easier with our five-step process.
- Determine the type of care your loved one needs.
- Understand the costs of assisted living, and what your loved one can afford.
- Research assisted living communities.
- Visit: What to look for when touring an assisted living community.
- Having “the talk.”
A free, printer-friendly version of the “5 Steps to Choosing an Assisted Living Community” guide is available to download here.
1. Determine the type of care your loved one needs.
The good news is that there are more resources than ever for seniors who need support. That means it’s possible to find exactly what you need, but the choices can seem overwhelming. It helps to understand the most common available options, and consult with your loved one’s physician.
Assisted Living/Senior Living
Assisted living communities (also called “senior living”) are residences where seniors receive help with tasks of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Assisted living communities provide meals, housekeeping, and entertainment, with care staff available 24 hours a day. See our full list of services here.
This is the most practical choice for seniors who have difficulty managing at home alone, but do not require skilled nursing care.
In assisted living, seniors may have their own apartment with a private bathroom, or share a bathroom with another resident.
Assisted living is the best choice for seniors who need support with daily tasks, help managing medications and medical care, but do not require skilled nursing care.
Understanding the Difference Between Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Care
Here are a few examples of the difference in services between assisted living and skilled nursing care. These are examples of services that are typical of many assisted living residents or skilled nursing residents. This is to serve as a guide only. Placement is based on a thorough evaluation by a nurse or physician.
- Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and using the restroom.
- Assistance with managing medications.
- Blood pressure monitoring.
- Continence care.
- Reminders about daily activities.
- Use of a feeding tube.
- Intravenous medications.
- Stage III and Stage IV wound care.
- Need for a hoyer lift.
- Psychiatric outbursts that require physical intervention.
Memory Care
Memory care refers to residences specifically designed for seniors with significant memory impairment, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Memory care residences are secure environments with programs specially designed to maximize independence for those with memory loss.
Not all seniors with memory loss require a memory care neighborhood. A regular assisted living community can be an ideal solution for seniors with some age-related forgetfulness. Learn more about how we determine whether memory care is the right choice.
Skilled Nursing
Skilled nursing (nursing homes) are residences for seniors who require acute medical intervention and assistance, such as regular intravenous injections or ongoing Stage III and IV wound care.
Home Care
Home care refers to assistance brought into a private home. Home care staff may be care aides or nurses, depending on the client’s need. Home care is typically provided by agencies charging an hourly rate. Home care is often considered a short-term or temporary option before around-the-clock support becomes necessary.
2. Understand the cost of assisted living, and determine what your loved one can afford.
Assisted living costs can vary widely. Many families experience “sticker shock” when researching the cost of assisted living.
However, it’s important to consider all of the expenses that are reduced by moving to assisted living, such as meals, home maintenance, utilities, and property taxes. Plus, should your loved one’s needs change, the cost of care will be far more predictable than it would be with home care.
To determine what your loved one can afford, consider all assets and income including social security, pensions, VA benefits, and proceeds from the sale of a home.
Many assisted living communities do not publish their rates online, so this will likely require some phone calls during your research process. We DO publish our rates to make it easier for our prospective residents and their families to make informed decisions.
If you have any questions about our rates (or when you’re ready to schedule a tour), please feel free to call us at 410-757-7000 or email us here.
- How are levels of care determined? What is the highest possible cost for care?
- Is there a community fee or entrance fee, and are these fees refundable?
- What other expenses might you encounter, such as pet fees or telephone?
- How often and on what basis are rates increased?
3. Research Assisted Living Communities
There is a lot to consider when researching assisted living communities, in addition to cost. As you begin talking with peers, searching online, and scheduling tours, here are some factors to consider:
- Location. will you be able to visit your loved one as much as you like?
- Reputation. Seek out online reviews, and talk with peers and your loved one’s physician for recommendations.
- Availability. Before scheduling a tour, check the community’s availability to make sure it matches your needs. Some communities have waiting lists.
- Fit. Consider whether the community is a good fit for your loved one’s physical and emotional needs. Of course, the community should be able to accommodate any special physical needs. For the best possible experience, also consider whether your loved one would be most comfortable in a smaller or larger community, and whether the community’s programming and atmosphere meet their interests.
4. Visit: What to Look for when Touring an Assisted Living Community
When visiting an assisted living community for a tour, you’ll likely see resident living spaces and common areas like dining rooms and lounges.
- How were you greeted? Were the staff friendly?
- How do the staff interact with residents? Do they know them by name?
- How is the food? We suggest having lunch at a community during the touring process.
- Is there activity in the community?
- How do the residents look? Are they well groomed? Do they look happy?
- Is the community in good repair?
- Has the community been forthcoming with their rates and policies? Are they willing to give you a copy of a contract? We strongly recommend reviewing a contract before deciding on a community.
- Did the person leading your tour take time to ask questions about your loved one?
5. Having “the talk” with a senior loved one.
Talking with a senior loved one about making a move can be an emotional experience. It’s important to create an atmosphere in which your loved one feels supported.
- Be prepared. Research and visit communities ahead of time. This will help you to answer your loved one’s questions and speak to their concerns.
- Talk to family first. It’s important for family members to feel that they have a say in the process. Make sure everyone is on the same page before talking with your senior loved one.
- Plan who has the conversation, and when. Every family is different. Some may do best with a one-on-one conversation, and others do best with everyone present. Consider enlisting outside help, such as a physician, clergy, or trusted family friend. Choose your timing thoughtfully. Talk at a time when everyone is at their best and has plenty of time.
- Listen to your loved one’s concerns. Make sure that they feel that they are heard and are part of the decision.
- Be patient. It may take many conversations to arrive at a decision. Your loved one will need some time to ask questions and think things over. It’s okay to revisit the subject from time to time.
A free, printer-friendly version of the “5 Steps to Choosing an Assisted Living Community” guide is available to download here.
We are here to help! Please contact us with questions about choosing the right assisted living and memory care in Annapolis.
For a private tour and personal conversation about The Annapolitan's services, please call Jim Thompson, Executive Director, at (410) 757-7000.
Kerry Willingham 2022-09-29 We moved our mom here about three weeks ago from a place that was more expensive and not very caring. Annapolitan Assisted Living is a hidden GEM! This place is organized, caring, spectacular! In less than a month our mom is smiling again, out of her room doing activities again, and she is even playing the piano again! The nurses are wonderful and caring. The director is amazing. Most workers have been here for over 7 years, and you can tell they enjoy their jobs. The dining hall is great, and we just love them all! We are so glad that someone told us about this gem of a place, otherwise, they don't advertise and they don't spend extra money doing it because they aren't a corporation. What a lovely place! Thank you! 
Sean Michaels 2022-05-20 Look no further, this assisted living home is amazing! My mother lived in an assisted living facility prior to moving to Annapolitan Assisted Living, and while we are thankful that her prior facility kept her safe and cared for, her former assisted living experience was no comparison to the wonderful experience she has had at the Annapolitan. My mom has lived here for almost three years and I am always impressed by how professional the staff is, and how kind they are to my mother. Additionally, the activities director always has terrific parties for the residents and the residents’ family and friends, and they take residents on outings to restaurants, parks, and even Bowie Baysox baseball games. During the COVID pandemic, the facility manager was absolutely terrific in balancing the health needs of residents with their emotional need to see family and friends, and implemented common sense precautions to protect residents. The entire staff is top-notch, friendly and caring. If you are looking for a place for yourself or your loved one, the Annapolitan is a terrific choice! 
Amy Mcfarland 2020-12-10 This place is wonderful! My mom is very well taken care of, the staff is very attentive. Jim Thompson, the director has gone above and beyond to make the families of the residents well informed during COVID-19. 
Marion Frost 2020-11-28 At this Thanksgiving time of year, our family has much to be thankful for, not the least of which was our decision four years ago to choose The Annapolitan as Dad’s new residence. Dad is now 105 years old and is extremely happy in his surroundings. There is not a doubt in our minds that Dad’s happiness is solely due to the care, compassion, and respect he receives from the dedicated staff and management.
I have written two or three previous reviews so that other families can make the right choice for the care of their loved ones. Those reviews have been equally balanced between the staff’s excellence and that of The Annapolitan’s management, but this time I want to commend, applaud, and extend our gratitude more specifically to Jim Thompson, the Director. By anyone’s measure, by any standard, I do not think there could be a better director of an assisted living facility. The quality and consistency of care over the four years of Dad’s residency has been unwavering and above reproach, and is indicative of Jim’s skills. He is kind, calm, and attentive to residents and family alike, yet maintains a professional demeanor that inspires confidence. His understanding, response, and communication during the current Covid-19 crisis is to be applauded, yet I think he does not get enough credit. Most people probably wouldn’t realize the number of masters that Jim has been serving this year: the Health Department, the Governor’s regulations, his residents, his staff, his families, and, of course, the Virus. Even after the most recent round of on-site testing, which resulted in a very unexpected 32 “Positives,” Jim had every person retested within eight hours. Every one of those 32 retests came back as “Negative.” Jim and The Annapolitan have had in impeccable record of performance and communication during a very unpredictable and uncertain time. Our family is very grateful.
In closing I want to send a message to my own family members…If I ever need assisted care, PLEASE check me into “Hotel Annapolitan.”
Marion Frost 
Melissa Rayhart 2019-05-28 Words cannot express my appreciation for Annapolitan Assisted Living during my dad's stay of almost 2 years. The staff is top notch as is the management. It is true what the reviews are saying. Annapolitan AL is a great place, good food, fun parties, outings and more. My dad was so very happy there. Also, we as a family were happy that he had a safe and loving environment that included us any time day or night. I was very concerned when he had to be moved to the memory care unit. I quickly learned that the advice I was given (that it was time) was spot on. Although he was not in memory care for very long due to a lung illness and a stroke he received excellent care from the staff. They worked tirelessly to make him comfortable and I will be forever grateful. Part of the sadness of losing my dad is that I will miss seeing on a regular basis all of the folks that helped our family to make his last years great years. Don't overlook this place in your search for excellent care and an extended group of family and friends! 
Catherine Weston 2018-07-02 Respite Care for My Dad: This place is awesome! Everyone is really kind and helpful. My dad was skeptical at first but found the place to be really nice. It is spotlessly clean with none of the smells you find at other places. Jim worked with me to get him registered and all the required paperwork prior to him checking in. I love this place and will keep them in mind for upcoming respite care needs and any long term care needs that may arise! What a hidden gem! Oh, and the pictures you see are true to date - none of the styling that other places have and when you arrive it looks totally dated and dirty and old! 
Doug Schenker 2018-05-22 The Annapolitan is now my home. I'm happy here. There are a lot of activities. The staff encourages me to press the button on my pendant any time I need help. It is after all assisted living. They make sure that the residents get their medicine on time. More later when I have time. 
Janice John 2018-01-12 My Mom has been at the Annapolitan since 2013. She loves it. The activities, the friends and family events ... she’s made great friends. Mom plays bridge and the Annapolitan drove her to the Senior Center every Tuesday free of charge. We love the free family meals. The food is excellent. Hats off to Chef Eric. Highly recommend.