How to Start a Senior Living Center

The number of rules and regulations involved with opening a senior living center may make the endeavor seem impossible. Your goal of offering quality living arrangements for older adults can get buried under stacks of local and state requirements, ranging from building codes to staff qualifications. But with careful research and determination, opening and operating a senior living center is not only possible but can be an important and rewarding contribution to the community.

Instructions

How to Start a Senior Living Center

• 1

  Decide what kind of senior living center you want to open. Using state and local regulations and definitions, decide if you want to offer assisted-living housing or a long-term continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Each state has its definition of what services are provided in each category and the qualifications and equipment needed to provide those services.

• 2

  Research local and state regulations. Within each state, local laws may include further standards that must be met. Everything from building codes to staff qualifications to minute details in medical services, therapy, recreational services and more are covered by a rule, so be thorough in your research and planning.

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers comprehensive guidelines for nearly every aspect of the planning, development and operations process.

• 3

  Join an association that focuses on senior services and housing. Groups such as the Assisted Living Federation of America and the American Health Care Association advocate for quality care in the older adult services fields. These organizations offer tools to guide you through early planning stages to ongoing business practices. In addition, you can meet experts in the field at meetings and conferences and learn from their knowledge and experience.

• 4

  Find the best location. Scope out the community and assess its senior living needs. What kinds of living centers are currently operating in your desired location? What services will you offer that fill gaps in available services, and are those new services in demand for your community? Whether yours is a new construction or adaptation of an existing building, follow local building and senior housing codes. Always use highly qualified architects and construction companies.

• 5

  Hire qualified personnel. Follow state regulations by hiring only people with proper credentials, licenses or certifications. Offer ongoing education and in-service training, keeping up to date with local and state regulation changes. From the facility's administrator to nursing staff, dietary services, housekeeping and maintenance departments, and any others, always hire qualified personnel.

• 6

  Develop disaster and emergency procedures as well as everyday routines. During your planning stages, go beyond the required regulations and building codes. Build relationships with safety service providers, such as fire and police. Good rapport with emergency service providers may be of special benefit during times of crisis.