What Questions Should You Ask Before Choosing a Memory Care Facility?

When choosing a memory care facility, it is important to do everything you can to make an informed decision. From the center’s staffing levels to its Medicaid eligibility, there are several key factors to consider as you make your decision.

While you can (and should) research memory care facilities online, once you begin narrowing down your options, you will want to schedule a time to meet with each facility’s owner or administrator in person. During this meeting, you should receive a thorough tour of the facility, and you should have the opportunity to ask any questions that you want to ask before you commit to moving forward. 

7 Questions You May Want to Ask Before Choosing a Memory Care Facility in Wisconsin

What questions should you ask before choosing a memory care facility? Ultimately, you should feel free to ask anything that you want to know. There are no dumb questions, and most people who are in your shoes will have the same queries and concerns. With this in mind, here are some examples of questions you may want to ask to assist with your decision-making: 

Is the Center Adequately Staffed with Skilled Personnel?

When choosing a memory care facility, it is imperative that you select one that is adequately staffed with skilled personnel. Generally speaking, a staff-to-resident ratio of 1:3 during the day would be considered very good, with many facilities having daytime staffing ratios in the range of 1:5 to 1:8. A facility with a daytime staffing ratio of 1:15 would be considered understaffed in most cases, though this may be an appropriate ratio for nighttime shifts. The facility’s technological and medical resources, the types of memory care it provides, and various other factors will play a role in determining what level of staffing is appropriate.

What Level of Training Do the Facility’s Staff Currently Have? Do They Receive Ongoing Training?

All of the facility’s skilled personnel should have adequate training to meet residents’ needs on a day-to-day basis. Memory care facilities should also ensure that their skilled personnel receive ongoing training specifically related to residents’ needs. 

Is a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) On Site 24/7?

To help ensure that residents can receive the care they need when they need it, memory care facilities should have a licensed medical professional on site 24/7. In many cases, this will be a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN), though there are other possibilities as well. 

Is the Facility Equipped to Prevent Wandering and Elopement? Are There Secure Outdoor Spaces Where Residents Can Walk?

For residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, wandering and elopement are serious concerns—and they are common grounds for negligence claims against memory care centers and other long-term care facilities. Along with having adequate skilled staff, memory care centers should be adequately equipped to prevent wandering and elopement. At the same time, these facilities should also have secure spaces where their residents can safely spend time outdoors. 

What is the Facility’s Process for Communicating with Residents’ Family Members in Cases of Emergencies?

When residents of memory care facilities are unable to make important decisions on their own, it is imperative that their family members receive notification of the need to make these decisions as soon as possible. As a result, when choosing a memory care facility, ensure that it has documented processes for communicating with residents’ family members in cases of emergencies. 

Does the Facility Have a History of Complaints from Residents or Their Family Members?

When evaluating memory care facilities, you should feel free to ask whether they have a history of complaints from residents or their family members. Facility owners and administrators should be willing to discuss any complaints openly, and you should be satisfied with how the facility responded. This is true both in terms of how the facility handled the specific situations at issue and how it modified its policies or practices to prevent similar issues in the future. 

Is the Memory Care Facility Medicaid-Approved?

Finally, if you will be relying on Medicaid coverage for your (or your loved one’s) memory care, you will want to confirm that the facility you choose is Medicaid-approved. As the National Council on Aging (NCOA) explains: 

“Medicaid generally pays 100% of the costs of a nursing home stay, including any memory care services provided in the scope of that care. It does not cover the cost of room and board in assisted living or dedicated memory care facilities. However, Medicaid may pay for some memory care services provided in these settings for eligible patients if the facility is Medicaid-approved.”

You can learn more about Medicaid coverage for all forms of long-term care at Medicaid.gov. 

Talk to Our Memory Care Negligence Lawyer for FREE

Boller & Vaughan provides experienced legal representation for memory care facility residents and their families. If you have questions about your family’s legal rights, we invite you to get in touch. 

Contact the Madison memory care negligence lawyers at Boller & Vaughan today online or at (608) 268-0268 for a FREE case evaluation. We proudly serve clients in Madison and throughout Wisconsin.