Senior living communities are supposed to be safe places for older adults to live out their golden years in comfort and security. Unfortunately, many unlicensed senior living communities out there whose operators need to meet all state and federal regulations. This can be dangerous, especially because older adults may not have the strength or mobility to leave if they feel threatened by their surroundings or other residents at the facility. Here are some of the signs you should look for when searching for an assisted living community that is licensed:
No Medical Caregivers
One of the most important parts of senior living is medical care. When you choose to live in an unlicensed community, you may not receive adequate medical attention. A licensed community will have professionals on staff trained to assist with the needs of seniors, including doctors and pharmacists. Before entering into an agreement with a senior-friendly independent living community, ensure a medical caregiver is on site. The medical caregiver’s role is to supervise and coordinate all aspects of the well-being of each resident in the community, including their daily activities and medical needs.
The Duties Of A Medical Caregiver Include the:
- Making sure residents are following doctor’s orders
- Monitoring the health of residents in the community to ensure they have no injuries or illnesses that would hinder them from performing daily tasks
- Communicating with families about their loved ones’ health conditions
No Written Contract
It could be a red flag if the senior-friendly independent living community still needs to have a written contract. Here are some things to watch out for:
- You should walk away if they don’t have a written contract. A written contract should contain the name of the retirement community and its address, as well as your name and any other relevant information (such as start and end dates). It should also state whether food is included in your daily rate or if there is an additional charge for meals.
- The care team doesn’t answer questions about how long people live here or whether anyone has ever died under suspicious circumstances (since this would raise red flags). You’ll probably get different answers depending on who you talk with at an unlicensed community; some might say everyone lives here forever; others will tell you that some people pass away within months, while still others will say they’ve never had anyone die here before…and so on.
No Financial Records
If you can’t get financial records, then there is a problem. Financial records are an important way that you can see how the community is doing and if it is treating your loved one fairly. If you cannot get these documents, then it means that the retirement community has something to hide—and that should be a cause for concern.
Unsupervised Caregivers
Unlicensed caregivers are not allowed to be alone with a resident. Residents also need protection from unlicensed caregivers who could take advantage of them by being alone with them or providing too much medication for whatever reason (perhaps personal gain). It’s important that you know what kind of experience your loved one will have when it comes to receiving personal care services from those who work at their home, which means talking directly with them about what they think would make them feel most comfortable and safe while living there.
Little To No Security
If you see that a senior-friendly independent living community is lacking in security, you should be suspicious. Unlicensed retirement communities can sometimes lack basic security measures which means that your loved one could be more at risk for crime or abuse. It’s also important to look for locked doors, as well as metal detectors (if applicable).
Conclusion
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to get out quickly. You can always try and switch your loved one to a new senior-friendly independent living community, but most importantly, protect yourself by looking into your rights as an owner or resident of an unlicensed community. An attorney specializing in elder abuse may be able to help with this process.
