Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We know many seniors and their families have questions about assisted living and Sunrise. Below are some of our most frequently asked questions and answers.
Don’t see your question here? Reach out to one of your local communities for more information. Click here to find a community or schedule a tour.
Care Plans and Safety
Costs
Touring and Visits
Activities and Programming
Amenities and Environment
Moving-in Process and Short-Term Stays
The Sunrise Difference & Sunrise Signature Experience
Care Plans and Safety
Q: What care options are available?
A: Sunrise offers independent living, assisted living, short-term-stays, skilled nursing care for those with memory loss as well as coordination of hospice and other care services. Not sure what type of care you need? Take our Care Questionnaire and discover if Sunrise is right for you.
Independent living affords active seniors the benefits of living at home without the worry of home maintenance, housekeeping chores and cooking. Residents enjoy educational, cultural, spiritual, social and fitness opportunities through the community’s programming.
Assisted living is best for seniors who need some help with certain everyday tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, meal time and taking medications and may also have specific care plans to address fall risk, poor nutrition or other individualized needs. Because assisted living needs are diverse and vary from resident to resident, each person has his or her own Individualized Service Plan (ISP), which details their care needs and preferences.
Most of our communities offer a Reminiscence Neighborhood, which provides a specialized, safe and secure care environment for those living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other cognitive conditions. Read more about our memory care programs and Alzheimer’s disease.
Select Sunrise communities offer skilled nursing care for seniors who need full time medical care as they recover from surgery, injury or hospitalization. We also offer respite or short-term stays, which help those with temporary care needs.
Q: Can Sunrise help if my mom or dad has experienced falls in the past?
A: We develop an Individualized Care Plan (ISP) for each resident that details care needs and preferences and addresses safety concerns. If falling is a concern, the ISP may include interventions and special precautions to help address this issue that will be followed by our Designated Care Managers.
Many of our daily programming and activities offer exercise classes that focus on strength and balance, which may assist in reducing the risk of falling.
Q: Do you have a medication management program?
A: Yes, Sunrise has a medication management program, which may be added to an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and varies based on regulation. Residents participating in Sunrise’s medication program may choose their own pharmacy or use Sunrise’s preferred pharmacy provider in that region. If a resident prefers to use an alternate pharmacy, the resident and pharmacy must comply with certain requirements. In some communities, residents may also be assessed to self-administer medications.
Q: Do you offer rehabilitation or skilled nursing?
A: Care options vary by community. Skilled nursing and rehabilitation care are offered in certain Sunrise communities, and when a resident requires more care than can be provided by our team, we work with the family, physician and partner providers to find an alternate solution.
Q: How is my level of care determined?
A: Upon move-in, our nurses and care team will assess your current health and review your medical history to see how we can best meet your needs. They will also discuss your preferences as well as your normal routines to develop a care plan that’s tailor made for you. This Individualized Service Plan (ISP) details your care plan and is regularly updated to meet your evolving needs.
We also have a short online Care Questionnaire to help understand the different type of care that may be needed.
Q: What is your staff to resident ratio?
A: Our staffing ratio is variable and adjusted constantly based on the needs of our residents at each community. Every resident’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) outlines the type of care they need, which is delivered by a team of Designated Care Managers who also learn each resident’s likes, dislikes and preferences, helping to anticipate a resident’s needs before they arise. Our residents and their care managers build very strong bonds.
Q: Can you help to provide a doctor?
A: We believe in a family’s right to choose everything – from a primary care physician to a physical therapist. Residents may keep their current physicians or our team can help them find physicians near the community. Some doctors make regular visits to our communities, but a resident is not obligated to use them. We can also provide scheduled transportation for our residents who need a ride to a doctor’s appointment, for an additional fee.
Q: What training do Sunrise team members receive?
A: We provide continued education and training, clinical care protocols and multiple quality assurance measures to reinforce our strong standards. Sunrise’s extensive training programs have been developed throughout our more than 30-year history and include classroom, online and hands-on training, and employee shadowing and mentoring.
Q: Do you offer 24-hour nursing?
A: We have nurses either in the community or on-call 24-hours a day.
Q: What are the typical services provided in Sunrise’s Assisted Living?
A: Some of our residents in assisted living simply require general oversight and reminders while others need various levels of care and assistance. We can assist our residents with all of their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as showering, dressing, grooming and even dining. Each resident has an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that details his or her care plan and is regularly updated to meet evolving needs.
Q: What are the typical services provided in Sunrise Independent Living?
A: Our independent living communities offer restaurant-style gourmet dining, an array of activities and outings, housekeeping and transportation along with friendships to last a lifetime. Care is available when they need it, but most of our independent living residents seek out the active and maintenance-free lifestyle these retirement communities have to offer. To view a full list of our independent living or Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), as well as floor plans from each unique community, click here.
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Costs
Q: How much does senior living cost?
A: The cost to live at Sunrise is based on each resident’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and room rental fees, which vary by location. For more information, view our financial options page.
Q: What is included in the costs?
A: Our base rate in assisted living and memory care includes three meals a day, housekeeping, a load of personal laundry and fresh linens and towels each week, an emergency safety alert system, wellness checks every 30 days performed by a nurse, transportation to community programs, and all of our in-house activities.
Q: What financial options are available to make senior care more affordable?
A: Many state and federal programs offer financial assistance for certain senior living expenses. For instance, in the U.S. there is a Federal benefit, called “Aid and Attendance,” which both veterans and their spouses may be eligible to receive to assist with assisted living fees. Some Long-Term Insurance Policies may also cover part or all of the costs for assisted living care. We encourage you to speak with your financial advisor to learn more about options to help afford senior living. Click here for information on additional financing options.
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Touring and Visits
Q: How do I arrange a visit?
A: The first step is to arrange a visit to a Sunrise community. During your visit, we’ll talk to you about your personal circumstances and how we can meet your individual needs. To set up a tour, simply call your nearest Sunrise community at 888-434-4648 (888-4-DIGNITY) or click here to find a community and schedule a tour.
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Activities and Programming
Q: What types of activities do you offer?
A: Our programming and activities vary by community and are specially designed to engage a senior’s mind, body and spirit.
Our mind activities include brain teaser games, language study and discussion groups – just to name a few! We also offer daily programming that helps our seniors stay physically active with chair yoga, tai chi, walking clubs and much more. For residents that like to get in touch with their inner spirit, we provide musical programs, poetry classes and a variety of religious offerings.
Additionally, we regularly plan fun and engaging activities outside of the community, such as a trip to a local park for a barbeque lunch, a scenic bus ride tour or a stop into an art gallery exhibit. There’s always something to look forward to!
View a sample activity calendar or find a community and view their unique week-at-a-glance activity calendar.
Q: How can you design activities to engage residents with dementia or memory problems?
A: Our Life Enrichment Managers, who are dedicated to providing residents with a sense of purpose, along with our Designated Care Managers, coordinate activities for each resident based on their personal history, interests and needs. They focus on making every resident’s experiences meaningful and full of purpose. We also have special programs, such as our Terrace Club program, that provide specific activities for those in the early stages of memory loss.
Q: Can residents request events or activities?
A: Yes! In fact, activity calendars are different at each community because each one is tailored to its specific residents’ requests and interests. Our communities also hold monthly resident council meetings, so we can be certain our activities meet their needs and interests.
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Amenities and Environment
Q: What is the average age of residents in assisted living?
A: While age varies by each community, in general, our residents are in their mid-80's.
Q: How does the dining program work? Are residents given 3 meals a day? Are they able to eat only at mealtimes?
A: In assisted living, we serve three meals a day and our dining services coordinators serve our residents restaurant-style. Emphasizing choice is important in our Signature Dining Program. In addition to the unique entrees featured at each meal, we also offer an “always available” menu for our residents. There is also a bistro in each community, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, where our residents can grab a snack or beverage anytime.
Q: Will my loved one have access to transportation services for doctors’ visits, activities they participate in outside the community, church services, etc.?
A: Yes, transportation to and from activities and outings are a staple. While the calendar of events varies at each of our communities, most communities include a day in each week where they take our residents shopping or sightseeing in the area. Many communities schedule outings to local grocery stores, pharmacies or Wal-Mart/Target so that residents can check errands off their list. Communities may also be able to provide local transportation including for doctors’ visits for an additional fee.
Q: Are there restrictions on visiting hours?
A: As this is our residents' home, we welcome visitors and work with our family and friends to visit their loved ones at a time that works best for them.
Q: Do you allow pets? Can I bring my dog or cat with me?
A: Yes, you are welcome to bring your own pet with you! If you are comfortable caring for your pet and they are an appropriate pet for the community setting we would love for them to join our Sunrise family. Plus, we also have a community cat and dog at each Sunrise location! Read more about our Sunrise pets.
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Moving-in Process and Short-Term Stays
Q: How quickly can you help?
A: We work with each family to support their needs as best we can, including accommodating urgent move-ins when possible. Residents receive a full care assessment prior to moving in, which helps our care team develop his or her Individualized Service Plan (ISP). In some cases, a move-in can occur in as little as a few hours.
Q: Can I bring my own furniture?
A: Yes, you are welcome to bring your own furniture with you as this is your home! We encourage you to design your suite to be as comfortable and familiar as possible.
Click here to view our helpful design guide, which includes our typical resident suite floor plan, as well as design and moving tips for making your move easier.
Q: Can Sunrise provide me with furniture?
A: Yes, there are furnishings available should you choose not to bring your own furniture. Contact a Sunrise community near you for more details.
Q: Do we have to sign a long-term lease for the apartment?
A: No. Our assisted living and memory care communities do not require long-term lease commitments. However, most of our communities require a deposit/move-in fee upon signing the residency agreement. We also require 30 days written notice prior to moving out of the community. Select independent living communities may require a lease and each community will be able to provide specific information on their requirements.
Q: Do you offer any short-term stays?
A: Yes, we do offer short-term stays at many of our communities. A short-term or respite stay is a convenient option when planned or unforeseen circumstances occur such as a family vacation or recovery from an illness. Guests can receive assistance during an illness or rehabilitation after a hospital visit, and some of our communities offer skilled nursing for those needing more care. It can also serve as a great opportunity to try-out life at Sunrise. For more information about short-term stays click here.
Q: Can we move in as a couple?
A: Yes! At Sunrise, couples can live together in their own suite surrounded by their familiar belongings. Alternatively, suites can be shared by friends or companions who simply enjoy each other’s company with the added benefit that it’s our most affordable option. Click here to learn more about Sunrise Companion Living.
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The Sunrise Difference & Sunrise Signature Experience
Q: How can I show my loved one I'm not taking away her freedom?
A: Keeping up a house, driving and living independently means a lot to most seniors, and suggesting senior living can make them feel like you are trying to take away personal independence. To prove otherwise, it’s important to show them how much independence and freedom they will enjoy at Sunrise.
Two of Sunrise's Principles of Service, Enabling Choice and Encouraging Independence, are an integral part of the senior living experience in several ways. For example, residents always have a variety of dining options at mealtimes and enjoy their normal daily routines just as they’ve always done, meaning they choose how to spend their day. Residents even have a number of activities to choose from that they can participate in each day.
The Sunrise Signature Experience includes relationship-based care, which means the same people are caring for our resident’s day in and day out. Designated Care Managers get to know each individual’s unique needs and preferences and cater to him or her accordingly. Our team of serving hearts is committed to enriching seniors' lives each and every day. Read more about The Sunrise Life.
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