Visit, visit, visit... and especially accept any invitation to eat a meal... here you can see how the staff interacts with the residents. Take her with you if possible so she can get used to the idea and may even speak up and choose for herself. We did this several years ago and while I did not find "The One" I did find several I knew we did not want which will make our selection easier if/when we do need one. Unfortunately, sometimes these decisions have to be made quickly and the more checking you can do the more your are prepared. This is my advice even if someone doesn't think they need one any time soon. Fortunately, we still are not needing to move to one, but I am ready to start visiting again because I know many have changed. We have visited ALs and NHs.
Your mother has dementia AND she smokes. She needs Memory Care Assisted Living and she likely needs to also quit smoking b/c there are going to be very few, if any, MCs that allow residents with dementia to smoke. On the right hand side of this screen in a blue box it says Find Care & Housing; click Memory Care, and punch in your zip code or city, and then See My Results. That's a good starting point to find a Memory Care AL for your mom.
Balsley6, if your area has the forum NextDoor.com join and ask the community what is the best assisted living in the area. Depending on the size of your community, you should get a lot of answers.
Once you narrow down a few place, ask for a tour, and ask if you can have lunch there. That will give you an idea on how well the food is made. On the tour, go with your gut feeling if you feel the place looks great, or if you are getting a hard sell, or the Staff looked overwhemed.
One place may be cheaper on rent, but it could have a menu of things your Mom needs which would jack up the price. When my Dad moved to Independent Living, he got weekly housekeeping and weekly linen service [Staff would wash his bedding and towels], 3 meals in the dining room, cable TV, landline telephone. A medical alert pendant, and a nurse on duty 24/7. Electric was extra mainly for the heat/air conditioning as each apartment had their own HVAC.
Later Dad would forget to take his meds, so I added on Med Tech service where twice a day a qualified person would dispense his pills and make sure he took them. All his meds were kept locked in the nurses office. This was an extra add on cost of $30/day which was well worth it.
Make sure the place you visit offers secure Memory Care, so your Mom can stay at the same facility and still be able to see any friends she had made while there. My Dad eventually moved to Memory Care, and Dad's only worry was who was the chef. Same chef, Dad, which made him a happy camper. Dad had to downsize from a 2-bedroom apartment w/full kitchen, to a one bedroom room. He referred to it as his college dorm. Thankfully his collection of books and bookcases would fit.
Go to your computer and look at Assisted Living Facilities in your area. Then call them and make appointments. Get up a list of questions you may have. Costs. Levels of care and how that affects costs. How often costs are raised. Staffing; how much staff for which levels of care. Ask for a tour. As you get closer to decisions ask to share a meal in common dining. Wishing you good luck.
Good luck!
Once you narrow down a few place, ask for a tour, and ask if you can have lunch there. That will give you an idea on how well the food is made. On the tour, go with your gut feeling if you feel the place looks great, or if you are getting a hard sell, or the Staff looked overwhemed.
One place may be cheaper on rent, but it could have a menu of things your Mom needs which would jack up the price. When my Dad moved to Independent Living, he got weekly housekeeping and weekly linen service [Staff would wash his bedding and towels], 3 meals in the dining room, cable TV, landline telephone. A medical alert pendant, and a nurse on duty 24/7. Electric was extra mainly for the heat/air conditioning as each apartment had their own HVAC.
Later Dad would forget to take his meds, so I added on Med Tech service where twice a day a qualified person would dispense his pills and make sure he took them. All his meds were kept locked in the nurses office. This was an extra add on cost of $30/day which was well worth it.
Make sure the place you visit offers secure Memory Care, so your Mom can stay at the same facility and still be able to see any friends she had made while there. My Dad eventually moved to Memory Care, and Dad's only worry was who was the chef. Same chef, Dad, which made him a happy camper. Dad had to downsize from a 2-bedroom apartment w/full kitchen, to a one bedroom room. He referred to it as his college dorm. Thankfully his collection of books and bookcases would fit.
Get up a list of questions you may have. Costs. Levels of care and how that affects costs. How often costs are raised. Staffing; how much staff for which levels of care.
Ask for a tour. As you get closer to decisions ask to share a meal in common dining.
Wishing you good luck.