|
Assisted living facilities also known as – adult congregate care, congregate housing, boarding home care, residential care, or domiciliary care – are the facilities that provide living space and minimal support to the people who just need little daily care on an ongoing basis. The care is administered at a facility unlike in home care. "Little care", in medical terms, means that you may expect some assistance with your medication, or maintaining basic home health supplies like an oxygen tank, but not much more than that. If you require a wheelchair, have noticeable cognitive impairment, or need assistance with basic mobility such as getting out of bed, assisted living isn't right for you. Needing help with daily chores up to and including showering and using the bathroom, however, won't disqualify you from assisted living. The typical resident in assisted living stays in that situation for 3-5 years before moving on to a nursing home, or for a lucky few, before moving back in with family members. Rights Assisted living facilities generally include among their list of tenant rights: Privacy Being treated with dignity and respect Freedom from neglect or abuse Freedom to interact with individuals inside and outside of the facility Continued practice of or abstinence from religion Representation in residential councils Retention and use of personal possessions Receipt of all evaluations of medical needs and health-related services Self-control of personal finances Some -- but far from all -- also allow their tenants to use tobacco and alcohol products, to keep small pets, to allow visitors at any time of day, and/or to allow overnight guests with notification of the facility management. Facilities While the facilities of each assisted living center vary significantly, commonly-available facilities include: Central food services that offer three meals each day A variety of educational, exercise, and exploration activities Emergency call systems in all private and most common areas Housekeeping and maintenance Organized recreational activities Laundry services 24-hour security Fees and Payment Most services are often bundled in with the monthly cost of the facilities. Although there are some who organize outings in particular, may also cost an additional amount. Fees, overall, tend to be somewhere between those for room and board and those like in a nursing home. Depending on a number of economic factors in general, the low end of assisted living runs to about $800/month. The high end can even run up to 10 times of that for those truly top of the line care. Some states provide public assistance for assisted living, most often through Medicaid, SSI, LIHTCs, or Social Services Block Grants. Many types of long-term care insurance will also assist with the costs incurred by assisted living. Medicare specifically does not cover expenses associated with assisted living. How To Choose The Correct Facility At present, there are no Federal regulations governing assisted living care (or in home care for that matter), which means it's critical to find out as much as you can about State, County, or local laws regarding these facilities. It's also important that you look up the qualifications of the facility's administrator, paying special attention to their education, their experience in the field, and their management ability. If the administrator passes muster, you should turn your attention to the rest of the staff. Do not rely on the facility to perform background checks and verify their staff's training -- all facilities claim they do, but not all of them follow through with their claims. A better source of information is the residents themselves. Ask them if they've ever had a problem with being understaffed, with staff members performing unethically, or with staff members not being able to perform their duties due to lack of physical ability or lack of training. Also, visit the facility, and ask: What is the entire range of services offered at this facility? Which services are included in the base monthly plan? If my loved one's needs increase or decrease, will the fees reflect these changes? How much notice will my loved one be given if or when fees change? Can my loved one's fees increase even if his or her needs do not? Is there a deposit, and is it refundable if my loved one needs to move? How do you identify which care services my loved one needs, and how often will he or she be reevaluated? Who conducts these evaluations? How is the payment plan set-up? What is your policy regarding use of outside services? In general, once you've gotten these answers from each facility in question, the right one will become obvious. Senior Helpers is today's premier choice for high quality in home care Jackson NJ offered at home and priced affordably. To learn more about our services visit our Website
Related Articles -
In, Home, Care,
|
