Finding the assisted living facility that will best meet your needs can be a difficult and time-consuming task. The more information you have the easier this task will be and the more likely that you will find the residence that is right for you.

The Assisted Living Facility Guide is intended to help you choose a facility for yourself or someone you care about. However, you should not base your decision on the data provided here alone. We recommend that you seek out other resources. If possible, you or someone you trust should visit a facility that you are considering before making this very important decision.

In Maryland each Assisted Living facility is required to complete a standard form describing services and policies of the facility to inform potential consumers about the services provided by the facility and to assist a consumer in choosing the most appropriate assisted living program for him or her. The form is called the Uniform Disclosure Statement and is required to be:   

• Filed with the Office of Health Care Quality as part of an application for licensure;
• Amended by the program when services reported on the form change;
• Given to individuals as part of the program’s marketing materials; and,
• Given to individuals upon request.
• To view a Uniform Disclosure Statement click here.

In addition to using the Uniform Disclosure Statement to compare the features of facilities, we recommend that you use the steps below to help with your decision.

Step 1: Gather information and prepare for a visit to the assisted living facility

Consider how you will pay for the assisted living facility. Review the minimum and maximum facility charges available on this site.

Create an initial list of facilities that you are interested in, based on location and the recommendations of friends, family and care providers. click here to begin a search

Contact the admissions representative of those facilities and ask about availability of beds or rooms in the category and timeframe that meet your needs. If a bed/room is available, schedule an appointment for an informational meeting and tour of each facility. Should you be unable to visit a facility personally, consider asking someone you trust to visit for you or call the facility to ask detailed questions.

Step 2: Visit each of the assisted living facilities that interest you

Visit the assisted living facility that interests you and meet with the admissions representative or administrator.

Ask for a copy of the facility's Uniform Disclosure Statement and other information the staff shows you to take with you.

Each facility has its own policies and procedures, but all must follow certain state and federal regulations and respect residents' rights. Ask the admissions representative for a copy of the facilities policies.

Standards governing the operation of an assisted living facility are set by state regulations, which cover a range of requirements and are intended to ensure the highest possible quality of care and most meaningful quality of life for all residents. Ask to see a copy of the latest state inspection report of how the assisted living facility met the state standards.

Tour the facility and observe staff interactions with residents.

If possible, tour the facility on your own. Not all facilities, however, will permit that.

Take the time to speak with residents and family members about their experiences.

Ask questions and make observations, using an Assisted Living Checklist  that are listed below.

Step 3: Narrow your choices to make a final selection

Narrow choices and re-visit the facilities under consideration, preferably at a different time of day, for example in the evening or during the weekend.

In making a decision, consider how you or a loved one would feel living there. In making a decision such as this, your impression after a visit can be as important as the data you have collected.

Contact the admissions staff for advice about the admission process.

Meet the administrator and key staff to discuss specific concerns you may have about care needs and personal preferences.

Ask to participate in care planning decisions.

Carefully review the facility's admissions agreement or contract. This is a legal agreement between the facility and the resident used to spell out conditions for admission. The contract should state the costs, services included, and all legal responsibilities of the resident. When you sign this document, it will be legally binding. If you have questions about the contract, ask an attorney or the admissions director for help.

Checklists
The guide “Assisted Living in Maryland: What You Need to Know” is a 73 page document that includes a checklist for choosing an assisted living provider. The publication also gives information about other topics such as what you should review before signing a contract and your rights under the law. To reach this publication, click here.

Assisted Living Federation of America’s Consumer Checklists – The Assisted Living Federation offers a consumer checklist that you can use to evaluate Assisted Living communities as well as an assisted living cost calculator. To find these tools go to: ALFA.