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Knowing the Elder Care options makes the decision easier for the
entire family.
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It
usually happens unexpectedly. A fall or an
illness leads to hospitalization and rehabilitation. In the midst of all the worry, concern and
fear over your loved one’s health and well being, you are told that going home
is not a safe option. Pressed into
finding a solution before your loved one is discharged and not even knowing
where to start is a very stressful situation for the entire family. Knowing your care options can be a help. Here is some basic information about one such
option – Assisted Living facilities.
What is an Assisted Living facility?
Assisted Living Facilities are designed for individuals that need
assistance with basic activities of daily living (ADL's). These activities are
self-care tasks that we all learned in childhood, but become more and more
difficult to perform as people go through the aging process. ADL’s include
feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing and grooming, walking and transferring
plus self administration of medications.
Assisted Living, also known as Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) or Community
Based Residential Facilities (CBRF's) are usually used by people who need
assistance with their daily living. These people find it difficult to live on
their own without relying heavily on family, friends or a home care agency. People who use Assisted Living Facilities may
require medical care in addition to receiving assistance with ADL’s, but they
can still maintain some level of independence and do not yet need the level of
continuous skilled nursing care as found in institutions like nursing homes.
Assisted Living Facilities are licensed and regulated by state guidelines. They
are grouped into three classes depending upon the level of care provided.
Typically “A” class signifies very little external help with ADL’s whereas “B”
and “C” class progress in the amount of care that can be provided. A “C” class
assisted living facility is licensed to provide all levels of care including
most skilled medical care tasks, which traditionally used to be only managed
through nursing homes.
It is important to understand the classification of the facility you
are considering, as some facilities will accept a Resident at one level of care
only to require them to move later as their care needs increase beyond their
ability to provide care.
People generally choose between home care, assisted living or nursing home care
depending upon the amount of independence the individual can maintain, the
amount of care needed, and the cost of that care.
Who can benefit from Assisted Living and how?
There are many types of people who can benefit from residing at an
Assisted Living Facility. Assisted Living is ideal for elderly
individuals, or couples, who are capable of some level of independence but
require assistance with the basic activities of daily living. They may
also have some medical concerns that require supervision or continuous
attention. An ALF is also a safe place for those suffering from
Alzheimer’s or Dementia related problems. Assisted Living is an ideal
living arrangement for disabled individuals as well as those recovering from
hospitalization or illness and in need of medical supervision.
There are many benefits for those who choose to live in an
Assisted Living facility. The most important benefit is derived from the basic
concept of “assisted” living. The philosophy of assisted living is that
it promotes independence, autonomy, privacy and dignity for the residents who
live there. The concept of Assisted Living is more concerned with the
approach towards care rather than the actual care received. This concept
is important to families struggling with the less appealing option of placing
their loved one in a traditional nursing home or juggling their own lives with
the many care needs of their loved ones. Assisted Living facilities
strive to support and maintain the current level of independence enjoyed by
residents, but with additional supervision and assistance when necessary.
One important benefit gained for residents and families alike is family roles
are often restored when caregiver responsibilities are taken over by trained
staff. The professional care provided by assisted living facilities
relieves the stress and burnout experienced by families when dealing with loved
ones who need daily care.
Peace of mind is gained from living in an Assisted Living facility.
The residents benefit from continual monitoring of their health by the trained
caregivers, Facility Directors and RN. Safety against accidents or
falls is another plus. The availability of nutritious meals and housekeeping,
in addition to opportunities for social interaction, all add to the quality of
life experienced by residents at assisted living facilities.
Who lives in Assisted Living facilities?
Currently, more than a million Americans live in an estimated
20,000 assisted living residences. Assisted
living residents can be young or old, affluent or low income, frail or
disabled. A typical resident is mid-eighty and is either widowed or single.
Residents may suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other memory disorders. Residents may also need help with incontinence
or mobility.
How much does Assisted Living cost?
Each resident has unique needs and preferences. That is why most
Assisted Living facilities will schedule an initial assessment meeting with
each potential resident and his or her family. The goal of the assessment
is to learn more about the resident and determine what type of care is needed.
After an initial assessment, the facility will work together with
your loved one’s health care provider to put together a Care Plan. The
Care plan is an individualized list and schedule of the services your loved one
will receive. The goal is to provide a level of care that addresses
health concerns and provides necessary assistance while helping seniors to
maintain their lifestyles.
Only after the Care plan is developed should there be a
determination of the monthly cost of care. That way there never should be
any hidden costs or surprises. On average Assisted Living costs are
usually half the costs of nursing home care or full-time, 24 hour a day, home
care. While some assisted living facilities charge per item of care or
service, there are some that includes a wide range of services within a
standard monthly fee. There are also some assisted living facilities
which base their prices on a sliding scale and often raise rates for each additional
service required. Those can start out at a rather reasonable price but soon
escalate to be quite costly as care needs increase.
How does Assisted Living compare to
institutionalized care?
A: The main difference between an assisted living facilities and institutionalized
facilities, such as nursing homes, is the level of care a resident receives and
the level freedom the residents are allowed to enjoy.
In nursing homes, a majority of the residents have health issues that require
continual medical supervision as well as need of assistance with daily living
tasks. They are no longer capable of living independently.
Residents in such a facility usually live in shared rooms with little to
no private space. Nursing staff provide medical and general assistance,
but are limited in their time and attention by a high resident to staff
ratio. Nursing home residents typically are unable to leave the facility
on their own, mainly because they are physically or mentally unable to.
Assisted living residents are far more independent. They typically do not
need as much hands-on medical attention. Beyond requiring assistance with
medicine management, bathing and other tasks of daily living, residents remain
very independent. In many assisted living facilities they have individual room
furnished and decorated to their own tastes. Assisted living residents
might still cook, entertain, participate in activities, and go on outings,
while still enjoying the security of medical supervision and social interaction
with other residents.
In the past the main distinction between Assisted Living facilities and
institutionalized facilities, like nursing homes, was the ability to provide
skilled nursing care. These days Class C Assisted Living facilities are
able to provide many medical services. Under the supervision of a RN,
medical care usually includes medication monitoring, pharmaceutical services,
Alzheimer's and Dementia Care, physical and occupational therapy, pain
management and hospice care.
Getting an overview of Assisted Living faculties does not make
choosing the best one for your loved one’s needs any easier. But knowing some of the basics about Assisted
Living can help with asking the right questions so you make the right choice.
Kate McCarthy is Director of Operations for HomeAid Health
Care which provides services for the elderly who wish to remain safe and
independent at home. HomeAid is sister
company to Prairie Home Assisted Living which has served the physical,
spiritual, mental and health needs of their residents since 1999. Together the two family owned companies
provide comprehensive care for the elderly and disabled in the Fox Valley of Wisconsin.
