Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of our most commonly asked questions. Please feel free to contact us at us if you have additional questions.

What is Assisted Living?
Assisted Living is often confused with many other Senior Care offerings and settings and the term is often used to distinguish between "retirement / independent living" and facilities that provide assistance services. In the state of California, "Assisted Living" communities are licensed as "Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly" (RCFE). Communities can be as small as 6 beds or may have many hundreds of beds available. They may be located in suburban, residential homes or may be large apartment-like buildings.

In all cases, Assisted Living providers offer various levels of assistance with activities of daily living (often abbreviated as ADL).

How do we staff for care-giving?
Staffing qualifications and staffing levels should always be a concern for the Assisted Living Community shopper. Questions should include:

Is a licensed professional health care provider employed by Arlington Commons?
Yes, the Arlington Commons Wellness Program is supervised by an LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse).

Are CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants) employed?
Yes, Arlington Commons makes every effort to employ those who have chosen to make a career of health care and especially health care for Seniors.

What kind of training is the staff required to undertake?
Staff are continuously trained in many elements of care- taking including disease progression, recognition of ill or declining health warning signs, spiritual and social facilitation, senior-based activities, cleanliness and overall wellness.

What kind of background clearances are made?
All employees are checked and cleared through state and local criminal databases before hiring. Additionally, all employees are checked through a service that indicates if any DUI, or elder / child abuse are in their histories. If there are any issues that are found during this process, the candidate is not considered.

What is the "staffing ratio" at Arlington Commons?
It is hard to determine an exact staffing ratio. In fact, there are no regulations or requirements other than "appropriate staffing levels." The reason for this is simple: some residents require no assistance while others require assistance at all levels. If the ratio of these residents is higher for those that require little or no assistance, then fewer Care-givers are required. The converse holds true as well. Arlington Commons, in all cases, exceeds the minimum recommended by state regulations.

Can I use insurance to pay for my stay at an Assisted Living community?
Arlington Commons is a "private pay" community; however, many residents use long term insurance to supplement their

How Can I Add to and Become part of the Legacy Care Philosophy?
Creating and Connecting to Life Stories

"By creating a life story, you affirm for your loved one all the positive things he or she has done in life and can still do," says Dr. Smith. "Even after your relative's memories start to fade, creating a life story shows that you value and respect his or her legacy. It also reminds you who your loved one was before Alzheimer's disease."

Connections to Life Stories are the single most important aspect of Legacy Memory Care. Each resident and their loved ones are encouraged to develop an extensive social history through which memories can be triggered. You will play a vital role by sharing your knowledge about the new resident. After all, who can better explain life-long habits, likes, dislikes, favorite foods, music and hobbies than you?

Communicating appropriate information about personal life, occupation and daily routines will greatly assist Care-givers in nurturing the individual and will help them get a picture of the person as he or she was before the disease. You may also be able to pass on coping strategies that have worked for you. Some caregivers write this information down as a mini- biography.

Each Resident and family is encouraged to build their Legacy Shadow Box upon move in. Care-givers, Activities Specialists, volunteers and family members participate to bring their Story to Life.

How do you evaluate the daily living needs of residents?
Arlington Commons uses a "grading system" to evaluate a resident's daily needs. This system has proven to be the most effective and unbiased method. A resident is assessed prior to move in, again three weeks after move in (to assure a proper assessment has been done), and once each quarter. See ADL Assessment Form.

How often will rates be raised?
Rent rates are usually raised once each year. Residents will receive a minimum of sixty days notice of rent increase. Care rates may escalate at any time daily assistance needs escalate. Forty-eight hour notice will be given if assessments using the ADL Assessment Form show a significant increase or if physician orders indicate additional assistance is required.

How large are the rooms at Arlington Commons?
All rooms at Arlington Commons are approximately 550 square feet including bathroom and closet. See Room Dimensions for a layout of the room.