What You Need to Know About Assisted Living Facilities

With the explosion of the number of senior citizens from the “baby boomer generation” Assisted Living Facilities are a viable mid point for care for the older generation between home health care services and nursing homes.  Here are some facts that you need to know if you or someone in your family cannot perform some of the activities of daily living.

Assisted living centers are intended to be an alternative for individuals who do not need 24-hour nursing care but do need a combination of housing and assistance

Assisted living centers vary in size, style and the optional services they may offer.  .  .

Assisted living centers are generally less expensive than nursing facilities and are intended to be a more home-like environment.  Assisted living centers that have residents who require administration of medications must employ or contract with a licensed nurse to review resident care and condition at least weekly.

Assisted living centers that have residents with cognitive impairments that prevent them from understanding, making themselves understood, or communicating their needs as determined by the physician of record must have the resident’s physician determine and document if services offered by the facility continue to enhance their functioning in daily living activities.

Assisted living centers that have residents with physical impairments that prevent them from walking independently must provide a call system.  Assisted living centers that have residents who do not have the ability to exit from the facility during an emergency must equip the facility with complete automatic sprinkler protection.  Assisted living centers that have residents dependent on supplemental oxygen must train staff regarding oxygen safety and must practice safe oxygen handling procedures.  Assisted living centers that have residents requiring diets that cannot be developed using a simplified diet manual must employ or contract with a dietitian. 

Assisted Living Centers are licensed by the state to provide personal care and services beyond basic food, shelter, and laundry to seniors.  Assisted Living Centers may admit and retain only those who do not require mote than intermittent nursing care by a licensed nurse. 

Assisted Living Centers may provide home health agency services for short term skilled services for a specific medical reason.  Assisted living centers fill a gap between independent living and nursing homes a need that's also partially filled by small adult-family homes, which serve six or fewer residents. 

Assisted living centers are less restrictive and less costly than nursing homes.  Assisted Living Centers provide care for eleven or more residents, often on a campus type setting with private rooms or suites.  Assisted living centers are designed for people who don't need the intensive care of a nursing home, but who still require help with bathing, meals and other daily activities. 

Assisted living centers will analyze each residents needs and provide the services they need; meals for those who can no longer cook; transportation for those who can no longer drive; and as much housekeeping as necessary.  Assisted living centers also provide 24 hour on site care, providing personal care, help with medicine, housekeeping and transportation.  Outpatient therapy clinics provide rehab services at work sites, schools, assisted living centers, homes, hospitals and other off-site locations, as well as within our clinics. 

While assisted living centers may not admit or retain residents who require ongoing nursing care, some facilities have been approved to assist individuals with supplemental oxygen, provide therapeutic diet meals or administer medications.

Health

Nursing homes are designed to care for very frail people that are not able to care for themselves and have numerous health care requirements.  Residents might not have to be discharged based on short-term variations in their health status or ability to ambulate.

Services can be integrated, allowing facilities and centers to compete in the changing healthcare market place.  “It’s a healthy trend, driven more by keeping life happy, rather than keeping residents well-behaved. 

Home health care services provide skilled services and care in the comfort of patients' homes.  Social time and camaraderie are vital to a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.  Adult day health services may also include preventive, therapeutic and restorative health related services that do not include behavioral health services.

Shop carefully when choosing an assisted living center for yourself or another member of your family.  It is not always the newest that is necessarily the best.  Nor is the most expensive necessarily the best.  Do a thorough due diligence before selecting a home for yourself or for a special member of your family.