Researching FACILITIES: Care Managers? Who to trust? What questions to ask? Where to begin?

Hi Molly,

So sorry you are facing this situation, but this forum is a great place to get advice. A good place to get on-the-ground info is your local Alzheimer’s Association support group. My fellow support group members recommended two care managers, and the one I have is great. Google Community Resource Finder, which is a combined Alz Assn/AARP site, click on AA programs and events, click on Alzheimer’s support groups and put in your zip code. Then touch go. You’ll get a list of support groups in your area.

Support group members are an invaluable source for all kinds of info. Through my support group, I found out about doctors, adult day cares and memory cares from people with first-hand experience.

Hi Molly,

You can also plug your zip code into this site and review the care managers in your area and their qualifications.

Aging Life Care Association Home

I recently hired a geriatric care manager. I called and spoke with them first. Met with two. One wasn't a good fit, but I liked the other. And, yes, they are expensive. I actually liked the the person that wasn't referred to me better.

Hi Molly,

My family has recently worked with Care Advisors, who are specially qualified to help with placement, to research memory care for my 66yo mom in 2 different states. They are no cost to you but incentivized/paid by the community you end up joining.

We’ve found that despite them essentially working on commission, they are kind, compassionate, extremely knowledgable, and really advocate for you, even when it comes down to trying to lower costs or connecting you to travel nurses and other resources. They have gone above and beyond for us. They will know who accepts Medicaid and will go on visits/tours with you and ask the questions you might never think of.

Some are regional, some are national. Here is one example:

I thought I had done my homework, but am finding that the Memory Care Facility that my husband has been in since 4/1 was a very bad decision on my part. Here are some of the things that I wish I had known or figured out before placing him.

1. They have 20 beds, and had 4 openings when I toured. That should have been a red flag right there!
2. Ask what certifications their staff has and what the ratio of staff to resident is. DH's facility only has personal care workers, no CNAs! The "director" has her CNA, but absolutely no managerial training or skills.
3. Is there a nurse on site at all times, or how often does their nurse visit.
4. If no on site nurse, is the nurse that they work with on call at all times?
5. Do they allow residents to remain at the facility until they pass away, or do they get moved when they progress to a certain point.
6. When you tour and/or visit, go several times and at different times of the day. Are there other residents with visitors? I ask this because the majority of the people in DHs facility have been there quite a while, and most have very few visitors if any. That means there is no one that keeps an eye on things. I go once, sometimes twice a day, so I notice a lot of things that a family member visiting for an hour twice a year would never notice.
7. What does meal time look like? Especially since your DH is EOD, it is important that they recognize and adjust the portions and food choices for his age. DH is 10+ years younger than everyone else at the facility, but the staff prepares the exact same plate for every resident. I find that I'm taking snacks to my DH every night just so that he's not hungry.
8. Can staff members see what/where residents are at all times that they are not in their rooms? Is there an easy line of sight to the common areas and any other hallways where the residents may like to walk. My DH did a lot of pacing, and there were falls or incidents with other residents that the staff never had a full picture of what had happened because of the setup of the rooms and walls at the facility.
9. And finally, look around at the other residents. Do they appear clean, are they dressed appropriately, are they left sitting in front of a tv or alone in common areas for long periods of time. And does the staff seem to be interacting with the residents, or are they merely just providing the bare minimal needs.