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How to Find the Best Assisted Living or Retirement Facility in San Francisco , CA

Having to deal with the reality of assisted living or nursing care for a loved one can be difficult and fraught with uncertainty. How can you be certain they'll give your loved one the care they need? Today, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement homes offer services to provide all the medical, social and nutritional needs of the elderly. In these articles The Prime Buyer's Report has information to help you choose the best San Francisco assisted living facility for you or your loved one. more »

How to Find the Best Assisted Living or Retirement Facility in San Francisco , CA 

According to the American Association of Retired People, people turning 50 today have about half of their life ahead of them and each year more than four million Americans join the over-fifty demographic. With advances in, and access to, first-rate medical care more people will live long into retirement, which is a good thing for obvious reasons, but it can also bring certain problems, among them, an increased need for medical care and a corresponding rise in expenses. Depending on an individual's level of independence, in San Francisco there are many choices available for retirement homes and assisted living facilities. Typically, retirement communities are for those who are entirely independent. Assisted living facilities are for those who may be able to perform all or most of life's necessities, but prefer not to every day, or prefer to have the option. For instance, one may be able to cook, but prefer to leave the shopping and preparing to the on-site cafeteria or kitchen, at least some of the time. At these types of mid-range care, residents can get assistance with daily activities such as transportation to shopping or doctor's appointments, eating, bathing and dressing, if necessary but otherwise lead independent, self-directed lives. These facilities are often utilized by couples where one spouse is more medically fragile than the other, thus allowing spouses to stay together in a supported environment.

Terminology varies throughout the industry. Assisted living facilities may be referred to as board and care facilities, residential care facilities, nursing homes or any of a number of other names. The most important thing is to ensure that the facility matches the level of care required. The options run from simply renting an apartment in a facility that has nurses and other assistants available if needed, to full-scale 24/7 nursing care. Some San Francisco assisted living facilities offer special Alzheimer's care wings, designed specifically to provide the best care for victims of that debilitating disease, occasionally with their spouses. San Francisco assisted living facilities typically offer apartments for independent living, laundry and maid service, full dining rooms with varied and nutritious meals in a restaurant-like setting, transportation service and often provide various activities such as movies, parties and music, recreation rooms with games and books, snacks, in-house hair and nail salons and much more. Residents may often bring their own furniture and other household items to make their apartment feel just like home. Some San Francisco assisted living facilities even allow pets. The most important things are the level of comfort and care provided to residents. Your loved one needs to fee safe, cared for and have a sense of home. Regardless of the arrangements you make, don't forget to visit often.

There Are Lots of Retirement and Assisted Living Communities from which to Choose San Francisco
As our population ages, more and more retirement and assisted living communities are appearing. Some are independently owned and some are part of a large chain; not all are created equal. Take the time to investigate several before choosing. To help, we've listed some of the best retirement communities in San Francisco . They are: Coventry Park, The Avenue Assisted Living, Rhoda Goldman Plaza, Buena Vista Manor House, Sunrise Assisted Living at Golden Gate Park, Belen's Residential Care Home, Eden Villa San Francisco, University Mound Ladies Home, Hayes Valley Care, Menorah Park Housing

Look for Assisted Living Facilities That Do More Than the Bare Minimum
When looking for a high-quality retirement home in San Francisco , look for industry certifications and/or kudos from consumer watchdog organizations, such as high ratings from the Better Business Bureau or Diamond Certified designations. The Prime Buyer's Report has compiled a listing of reputable publications, associations, and resources for assisted living facilities and retirement communities. To view these links, see the article, "Key Consumer Resources for Assisted Living and Retirement communities in San Francisco ."

 

 

Choosing The Best Assisted living facility or Retirement Home for Your Loved One in San Francisco  

When choosing an assisted living or retirement facility, there are many considerations to take into account. Keep in mind that some medical conditions must be evaluated by a doctor, and his or her recommendation or classification can determine which facilities will accommodate you.  Everyone's needs are different so it's best to write down as much as possible about what you are looking for-leaving no detail out-before you meet with representatives of potential San Francisco retirement homes. This gives each a chance to comment on and address the same things, so it will be easier to compare responses. Be ready also to ask lots of questions of your own. Listen not only to the answers to your questions, but to the level of interest and compassion the representative of the assisted living facility responds with. If they don't seem to be completely invested in ensuring your loved one is completely cared for in every way, choose another retirement home. You want the assisted living or retirement community you choose to be fully involved and to really care that everything goes perfectly for your loved one. If you've gotten a good initial impression, ask some questions about the retirement community's facilities, amenities, experience, and credentialing. Use the list of questions below as a guide to develop your own.

How long has this assisted living/retirement home been in business?

Are you part of a chain?

What training and certification does your staff have?

What do staff schedule and staffing patterns look like on a daily basis? On the weekends? Holidays?

Can I bring my pet with me?

Can I decorate my apartment as I like?

What shopping or recreation facilities are nearby?

May I see a copy of your annual state and federal facility survey? (They are required to provide this on request).

What is the monthly charge for different services? (Note: Adding living area square feet, extra rooms or in-room kitchen facilities can greatly affect the cost).

Is housekeeping/laundry service including in the monthly charge?

What system/staff do you have in place in case of a medical emergency?

Does each resident have their privacy respected?

May I speak to some current residents and/or their families?

What is your staff-to-resident ratio?

Can SSI offset some or all of the costs?

What is your availability? Is there a waiting list?

Will you provide a written contract that covers every expense, including ancillary services?

What recreational facilities/services do you provide residents?

Through this question-and-answer period, consider first impressions, technical abilities, experience levels, and compatible styles. Somewhere in this combination of facets you will find the right assisted living facility for you or your loved one. When you've selected the most suitable San Francisco retirement community for you, make sure they are properly certified to perform your work.

 

 

Key Consumer Resources for Assisted Living and Retirement Communities in San Francisco  

Associations & Licensing

BBB Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org)
DCA California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov)
American Association of Retired People (http://www.aarp.org)

California Department of Aging (http://www.aging.ca.gov)

California Commission on Aging (http://www.ccoa.ca.gov)

National Center for Assisted Living (http://www.ncal.org)

Consumer Information about long-term care (http://www.longtermcareliving.com/assess/al/)

Medline Plus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/assistedliving.html)

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (http://www2.aahsa.org/)

National Association of Senior Move Managers (http://www.nasmm.org/)

California Assisted Living (http://caassistedliving.org/Consumers/what_is_al.htm)

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (http://www.canhr.org/index.html)

Diamond Certified (www.diamondcertified.org)
Assisted Living Federation of America (http://www.alfa.org)

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (http://www.aahsa)

American Senior Housing Association (http://www.seniorshousing.org)

Center for Aging Services Technologies (http://www.agingtech.org)

Senior Outlook (http://www.senioroutlook.com)


The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 assisted living and retirement communities in San Francisco within the following zip codes.

94101, 94102, 94103, 94104, 94105, 94107, 94108, 94109, 94110, 94111, 94112, 94114, 94115, 94116, 94117, 94118, 94119, 94120, 94121, 94122, 94123, 94124, 94125, 94126, 94127, 94129, 94130, 94131, 94132, 94133, 94134, 94140, 94141, 94142, 94146, 94147, 94157, 94158, 94159, 94164, 94165, 94166, 94167, 94168, 94169, 94170, 94172 and 94188.

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 assisted living retirement communities in San Francisco within the following cities.

Bernal Heights, Cow Hollow, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset, Japantown, Laurel Heights, Marina District, Mission District, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, North Beach, Outer Sunset, Pacific Heights, Presidio, Rincon Hill, Russian Hill, San Francisco, Sea Cliff, Sunset District, Telegraph Hill, Treasure Island, Twin Peaks and Western Addition

 

 

Tips for Choosing the Right Assisted Living or Retirement Community in San Francisco 

Take Time Choosing Your Retirement Community.
Take your time choosing an assisted living facility. It's a huge decision and choosing right can mean the difference between regret and a happy retirement.  Each retirement community will come to the table with different skill sets, experiences, services and philosophy. If can plan early enough to interview several-even if you like the first one you meet, your odds of a successful outcome will improve.

Write it Down.
We mentioned this in another article, but it's important. Think about what services or amenities you need from an assisted living facility or nursing home. Jot down all your notes about any details that seem important. Sit down and write this out as detailed as possible; write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how trivial. By writing it down you'll be able to hand each potential retirement community a clear, consistent summary of what you're looking for and expecting. It will also be easier for them to give you clear, complete answers to your questions and concerns.

Get Several Separate Estimates.
When selecting a San Francisco assisted living facility, it's not about just finding the lowest bidder. Getting several estimates helps because it will not only help you get an idea of the market value of the service, it will give you a chance to sound out the personalities and policies and customer service of each retirement community before getting involved with them.

Get Everything in Writing.
Nothing is official until it is written and signed. So insist that your retirement community provides you with a detailed document that describes the services, fees, policies, pricing, and any guarantee information. Get it in writing.  Everyone will feel better.

Do Your Homework Before You Sign An Agreement With a San Francisco Retirement Community.
To narrow down your choices, do some detective work. Research the retirement community's licensing, insurance and reputation. To help with this, see our article: Key Consumer Resources for Assisted Living and Retirement Communities in San Francisco . Verify all of this information before signing the contract.

Choose Certified Retirement Communities.
In San Francisco , there is an upper echelon of highly regarded retirement communities and assisted living facilities that insist on delivering the best customer service possible. Seek out local retirement communities that have earned awards or certifications for customer service and you are much more likely to have a better outcome.

Visit the prospective Assisted Living Facility During Different Times.
Before making a decision, it's a good idea to do some drop-in visits during different times to observe overall conditions, cleanliness, the demeanor and appearance of residents, presence of qualified staff, etc. You might also want to drop by unannounced at lunch and dinner to sample the food being served. Do you see family members visiting? Look around; talk to residents, and any visiting family members. This will give you a better sense of the realities of daily life than just taking the scheduled tour.
 
Know Your Rights.
If you have the misfortune of arriving at a disagreement or legal impasse with your assisted living facility, you are protected by certain rights. Start with the California Department of Consumer Affairs Web site (www.dca.ca.gov).

If An Assisted Living Facility or Retirement Community Doesn't Measure Up, Fire Them.
If your chosen assisted living or retirement community turns out to be inadequate in any way, look to the terms of your contract: what obligation do they have to make good? Do you have rights spelled out in the event of legal impasse?  What are they? Essentially, a retirement community's failure to perform under a contract constitutes grounds for dismissal.  But before you decide to terminate residency, weigh your options carefully.  Moving a fragile or elderly person can be much more disrupting than weathering the occasional disagreement with staff at your chosen facility.  Also keep in mind that really good facilities often have wait lists; if you suspect that you might have to move, examine your options thoroughly and get on waitlists as soon as possible.