Is it Time for Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a type of community to provide seniors with medical or personal care on a daily basis, freeing up time for the more important things in life. Assisted Living communities typically offer a variety of floorplans to fit the residents needs ranging from individual rooms to apartments or shared spaces with other residents. Residents are able to maintain independence while still receiving help with daily tasks in a home-like environment.
Some communities even offer premier amenities, services, and activities for residents to promote security, safety, and companionship.
Pricing for Assisted Living ranges from community to community. Some communities accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurances, but some are private pay. Private-Pay means they do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurances, so you would have to pay out of pocket.
Assisted Living is a great option for those who are getting older and do not want to or cannot live on their own, but would still like to maintain independence. Living in an Assisted Living Community means being surrounded by like-minded people to socialize and stay active with, and having the security of knowing you have the extra help you need.
What Services do Assisted Living Communities Provide?
Talk with your family and caregivers about what services are needed. Take time to consider what services are important to you or your loved one before you visit any assisted living communities. Consider the financial situation and how to pay for the community. Thinking through all of this will help ease the transition. The services and amenities offered by a community vary greatly. But most often include:
- One to three meals per day
- Monitoring of Medication
- 24-hour emergency care
- Social and recreational activities
- Housekeeping and Laundry Services
- Some medical services
- Personal care, including dressing and bathing
- Transportation to appointments
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Assisted Living Community
Location
Quite often, the main objective is to remain in your local area to be close to family and friends. It is important to know some states limit how much medical assistance the community can offer their residents. If your needs require a significant amount of care in those states, you may need to look elsewhere, and that may be further from family and a neighborhood you are familiar with. When it comes to location, it is also important to consider weather. If it is too hot or too cold for you or your loved to enjoy the outdoors, that may affect their overall recovery, disposition, or mental health.
Size
According to the NCAL, the smallest ALC in the United States has only four certified beds, while the largest has about 500. While size is crucial to everyone, the staff-to-resident ratio is the most important consideration. It is also good to know the lower the staff to resident ration, the lower the hospitalization rate is due to greater monitoring and more frequent care checks on residents. Size can also affect the types of services and amenities offered. Larger senior living communities are often able to offer more amenities and activities, but are often too big for someone with memory loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia to feel comfortable.
Services
Most assisted living communities include dining services, housekeeping, laundry, exercise and wellness programs. Unless the community is all-inclusive you may find they will charge monthly fees for medication management, bathing, incontinence assistance, transportation, wellness checks, and specialized therapies. Due to the dramatic increase in the number of seniors with memory loss, nearly 60% of communities now offer a memory care on-site. Other programs that enhance the quality of life for residents, like art and pet therapy, computer or music lounges, and community outings are often offed and should be listed in their community brochure.
Accreditations & Staff
It is very important to ensure the community is staffed with licensed and compassionate caregivers. Ask about staff accreditations and training as well as if the community has any citations you should be aware of. It is always recommended to read Google and social media reviews as well. it is not required to have but the ACHC, Assisted Living Accreditation program, created a certification program to assist Assisted Living Communities improve procedures, patient care, safety, and consistency. The ACHC worked with leading industry organizations and experts to develop national guidelines that promote excellent resident care and trustworthy business operations.
Cost
Cost is a crucial consideration. Transitioning from complete independence or being cared for by a family member to a community that provides 24/7 care might be surprising. Some communities charge a lump-sum rate to cover a set menu of services and amenities. Others use an a la carte pricing model from where you choose services and amenities they want. You may also want to consider a community that offers care for other conditions such as Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing. These communities are known as continuum of care communities which means when the time comes and additional care is needed, you won't have to move to a new neighborhood or different community to receive the care needed. It is important to know what the average cost for Assisted Living is in your state before you start your search.
Lifestyle
Most all Assisted Living communities allow for you to choose how many or how few activities you participate in daily. If you want some alone time, you can have it in your own apartment or room or in the library or chapel on site. If you want social interaction, there are most often options such as exercise, games, sing-a-longs, and outings available. We recommend visiting the community you are interested in, talking to the staff and residents, attending a meal and getting a sense of the environment. That's the biggest piece of advice we can give people is to make sure it feels like the right environment for their needs and overall wellbeing.
What Should I Look For in an Assisted Living Community?
The following questions will help you and your family to evaluate assisted living facilities. Read our guide and have them answered to help you in choosing an appropriate community for your needs.
Is the residence licensed?
What type of insurance does the facility carry on personal property?
How do they respond to medical emergencies?
What is the visitation policy?
Is there a written plan for the care of each resident?
What is the procedure for assessing a potential resident’s need for service? Are those needs reassessed periodically?
Can a resident be discharged for refusing to comply with a care plan?
Is a contract agreement available to include accommodations, personal care, health care, and support services?
When may a contract be terminated, and what is the refund policy?
Are additional services available if the resident’s needs change?
How do you pay for additional services that are needed on a temporary basis (such as nursing care)?
Are there different costs for various levels or categories of services?
Are there any government, private, or corporate programs available to help cover the cost of services to the resident?
What are the billing, payment, and credit policies?
May a resident handle their own finances with staff assistance (if able), or should a family member or outside party be designated to do so?
Are staff members appropriately trained?
Is staff turnover rapid or slow?
Did you receive a warm greeting from staff? Are staff members personable and outgoing?
Are staff members appropriately dressed?
Do staff members greet residents by their first names and interact warmly with them?
Are staff members available to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs?
Are staff members available to assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses?
Are staff members available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living, if needed?
Daily activities include:
- Dressing
- Eating
- Getting Around
- Hygiene and grooming
- Bathing, toileting, and incontinence
- Using the telephone
- Shopping
- Laundry
- Housekeeping in unit
- Pharmacy medication delivery
- Transportation to doctor, hairdresser, or other activities
What is the residence policy regarding storage of medication, assistance with medications, and medication record keeping?
Is self-administration of medication allowed?
Who coordinates visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other specialist, if needed?
Does a physician or nurse visit the resident regularly to provide medical checkups?
Do they use a certain pharmacy? Can medications be delivered?
Do you like the appearance of the building and its surroundings?
Is the decor attractive and home-like?
Is the floor plan easy to follow?
Do doorways, hallways, and rooms accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
Are elevators available?
Are handrails available to aid in walking?
Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?
Are carpets secured and floors made of a non-skid material?
Is there good natural and artificial lighting?
Is the residence clean, odor free, and appropriately heated/cooled?
Does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week?
Are snacks available?
May a resident request special foods or diets?
Are common dining areas available?
May residents eat meals in their units?
May meals be provided at times the resident prefers or are there set meal times?
Will they accommodate physician nutrition orders?
Is there an activities program?
Do residents participate in the neighboring community’s activities?
Do volunteers, including family members, come into the residence to conduct or help with programs?
Does the facility require residents to undertake any chores or perform specific activities that benefit all residents?
Are residents’ pets allowed in the unit? Who is responsible for pet care?
Does the residence have its own pets?
Are different sizes and types of units available?
Are units for single and double occupancy available?
Do residents have their own lockable doors?
Is a 24-hour emergency response system accessible from the unit?
Are bathrooms private?
Do they accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
Can residents bring their own furnishings?
What may they bring?
Do all units have a telephone and cable television?
How is billing handled for these services?
Is a kitchen area/unit provided with a refrigerator, sink, and cooking element?
May residents keep food in their units?
May residents smoke in their units?
May they smoke in public areas?
Do residents socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable?
Do residents, other visitors, and volunteers speak favorably about the facility?
Do the residents seem to be appropriate housemates for you or your loved one?
Are the residents at similar levels of functioning as you or your loved one?
We understand the decision to place your loved one in an assisted living community is often overwhelming, however necessary. When it comes to the care necessary for those who can no longer safely care for themselves, Senior Living Communities Near You is here to assist with the resources you need to make the best decision for you and your family. Take a look at our info sheet on Assisted Living.
