Your Sibling Lives Out of State and Wants Proof the Silver Spring Facility Checks Out - Here's What to Send Them

This comes up constantly with adult children coordinating a parent's care from out of state: someone tours a Silver Spring community in person - downtown, Forest Glen, or Woodside - and the rest of the family wants documentation, not just a verbal 'it seemed nice.'

What to actually send them

Montgomery County assisted living, including Silver Spring, is licensed by the Maryland Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) under COMAR 10.07.14. OHCQ's facility directory is public and shows the license Level (1, 2, or 3), current status, and survey/inspection history for any specific address - screenshot or forward the relevant page directly.

If the record raises questions

Montgomery County's ombudsman program, run through the County Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services (240-777-3000), can help interpret a survey finding or look into a specific concern. This is the same county office that would handle a Bethesda or Rockville complaint - Montgomery County runs one program, not one per city.

Three questions worth texting back to the family

1. What Level is the license, and does it match Mom's actual care needs?
2. Is there anything open or unresolved from the last OHCQ survey?
3. Has anyone called the county ombudsman line just to ask general questions, even without a complaint?