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What is Assisted Living? 1. More Information · - Common Myths about Assisted Living · - Types of Rooms Found in Assisted Living · - Bathrooms in Assisted Living · - Amenities · - Assisted Living Regulations · - Assisted Living Photo Gallery An assisted living facility is a senior living option for those with minimal needs for assistance with daily living and care. It's purpose is to help adults live independently in a safe environment. Aging in place is the option that most seniors prefer, but sometimes it is not the safest one to choose. If a person is unable to take care of their daily activity needs, like dressing, bathing, cooking, shopping, paying bills, and taking medications, it's time to rethink aging in place. There is a huge movement among seniors that want to live at home and maintain independence but In some cases, aging in place is not a good idea. There are new regulations in place to help people who wish to stay at home, while they age. State and Federal Regulations There are no federal standards and regulations for assisted living facilities. Each state defines assisted living and sets the regulations for the entity. Some federal laws impact assisted living communities, but most oversight occurs at the state level. Most states are moving towards defining their assisted living facilities as such, whereas other states use different terms such as residential care facilities or personal care homes. Two-thirds of states use the term assisted living. It's important to note that some licensed assisted living facilities may care for other residents besides seniors, such as mentally challenged and those with special needs. While the term "Assisted Living Facility" covers a wide range of facility types and care types, Our assisted living content is geared toward offering information for seniors. Services Offered by Assisted Living Although every state is different, most assisted living facilities offer: · Living accommodations (Private or Shared Assisted Living Rooms) · Meals · Supervision · Security · Assistance with activities of daily living Additional services offered by assisted living communities include: · Medication management · Additional nursing services (by either staff or outsourced) · Social activities · Transportation · More intensive memory care Types of Assisted Living The types of senior living and assisted living fall between an independent living community and a nursing home, in terms of levels of care offered. A typical assisted living home might offer 24-hour personal care monitoring and support services like medication administration or bathing, while providing more freedom and privacy than a nursing home. Depending upon the state location of the assisted living facility, the most common types offered are three types: · Assisted Living Facility Type I & Type II · Small Health Care Facility - Type N Type I - Assisted living facility The facility provides a safe and clean living place with three meals a day. A resident may require minimal assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including significant assistance with up to two ADL's. Residents in a Type I facilities: · Evacuate the facility under his own power (be mobile). · Have stable health and free from any communicable disease. · May receive assistance with medications or have medications administered by a nurse. · May receive home health services through individual contract with home health agency. · Receives 24-hour general monitoring, 7 days a week. · May receive general nursing care according to facility policy. · Participate in developing a service plan Type II - Assisted living facility The facility provides full assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Residents in a Type II facilities: · May require the assist of one person for transfers or to evacuate. · May receive assistance with medication or have medications administered by a nurse. · Receive general nursing care from facility staff. · Be free of communicable diseases that could be transmitted to others through the normal course of activities. · Receive 24 hour individualized personal and health-related services, 7 days a week. · May receive home health services through individual contract with a home health agency. · Participate in developing a service plan Small Health Care Facility (limited in the number of residents) Residents in a Small Health Care facilities: · Lives in a licensed home occupied by the owner or operator. · Receives supervised nursing care on a daily basis from a written plan of care. · Receives assistance with medications or receives medication administration by a nurse. · Be free of communicable diseases and does not require 24 hour nursing care or inpatient hospital care. · May be dependent · Receive total assistance for daily activity needs · Receives 24-hour direct care staff for monitoring and assistance. · May receive rehabilitative services through individual contract with a home health agency. What are the Physical Characteristics of an Assisted Living Facility Assisted living facilities strive to include homelike qualities. Studies show that two factors affect the older adult to successfully adjust to a new surroundings: 1. Their personal needs get met 2. The previous home and the new surrounding has similar characteristics and environmental connections. The more autonomy and choice a resident is given, the less health complications than facilities where choices were less frequent.
Characteristics of Assisted Living The physical characteristics range from a house or small building with just a few beds to a large senior living campus with multiple buildings and hundreds of beds. In our facility directory, we state the number of beds, giving you an idea as to the size of the facility. Each state is different with a number of licensing requirements, so it is important to know what type of care facility you prefer. Most senior living facilities offer a high level of privacy. Despite the 24-hour trained staff, residents find the same amount of privacy as they would within a standard apartment complex. Decorated and personally arranged rooms give residents the comfort of home. Since there is no need for nursing home type equipment, assisted living care homes offer more of a community type atmosphere, with the added comfort of assistance from trained staff within the facility. Assisted Living Residents Residents are senior citizens who need some assistance with everyday life but do not need intensive care as offered in nursing homes. They are capable of living on their own and they're in decent health. Since states license and regulate assisted living, some licensed facilities cater to mentally handicapped persons or persons with special needs. Read "Who lives in an Assisted Living Facilities" for more details about the typical resident. The most valuable service assisted living offers is medical assistance from a trained staff. If residents are partially incapacitated from illness or injury, the staff assist residents with needed care, while allowing the resident to enjoy and maintain a normal social lifestyle. Assisted living is a great option for senior citizens in need of a bit more care than independent living, but not wanting the confines of a nursing home.
After seven years of helping her aging parents, Carol Marak has become a dedicated senior care writer. Since 2007, she has been doing the research to find answers to common concerns: housing, aging and health, staying safe and independent, and planning long-term. More on What is Assisted Living?: · Common Myths about Assisted Living · Types of Rooms Found in Assisted Living · Bathrooms in Assisted Living · Assisted Living Photo Gallery Find Assisted Living Facilities · Home · Free help: (866) 333-6002 Getting Started · Who Lives in Assisted Living? · Quiz: What type of care is right for me? Paying for Assisted Living · Ways to Pay for Assisted Living · Putting Together a Financial Plan · If You Can't Afford Assisted Living · Planning Your Social Security to Better Pay for Retirement · Prescription Drug Assistance Making the Move · Choosing an Assisted Living Facility · Moving Out of the Family Home · Moving Into an Assisted Living Community Living in Assisted Living · Medication Management and Adherence Education · Safety · How Tech Advanced are Facilities? For Staff and Owners · Opening a New Assisted Living Facility Statistics & Interviews · General Facts and Statistics
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