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Choosing
an Assisted Living Facility
Copyright 1999 IlluminAge,
206-625-9128. Reprinted from the Resident and Family Guide to Long
Term Care. Provided exclusively for individual use by long term
care residents and their families. All other use, reproduction,
distribution or adaptation is prohibited.
- A Happy Medium
- What To Look For
- A Set of Values
- Services Available
- Staff and Residents
- Programs for Quality Living
- Building, Grounds, and Apartment/Unit
- Financial and Contractual Details
- Key Words and Phrases
- Ten Questions to Ask Before Choosing an
Assisted Living Residence
A
Happy Medium
For many older adults, an assisted living
community can combine the best of two worlds. It allows them to remain
as independent as possible, as though they were living at home or in any
retirement community. Yet at the same time, it provides needed personal
care and health care services similar to, those available in a nursing
home, only less intensive.
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What
To Look For
Choosing an assisted living residence is an
important step. When you take it, you'll be deciding on not one, but
two, important items: where to live, and how to obtain personal
assistance with various aspects of living. So it pays to take your time
and make an informed choice.
As you evaluate your needs and consider your
options, keep in mind what assisted living is all about and what sets a
quality living environment apart from one that would prove
disappointing. Look carefully; ask lots of questions; focus on the
things that really matter.
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A
Set of Values
The intangible values that guide an assisted
living community ~ that define it ~ are usually more important than
what's on the surface. As you look at a particular residence, try to get
a feel for its priorities. A quality assisted living environment will
always put the needs of residents first in these key respects:
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by
providing residents with a community that is safe,
friendly, and based on mutual respect; |
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by
delivering appropriate and needed services in a
professional way; |
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by
promoting residents' independence and protecting
their rights. |
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Services Available
The "assisted" in "assisted living" refers to the
assistance available to residents who are experiencing difficulty in
handling one or more of the "activities of daily living" or "ADLs." So
it makes sense to make sure the services you need, or are likely to need
in the foreseeable future, are available in the setting you’re
considering.
Assisted living services need to be planned and
tailored to the needs of each individual resident. Is care planning part
of care providing? Who participates in that process? In most situations,
the resident and family members are encouraged to participate.
And what if your needs change? As a resident, will
you have convenient and ready access to other levels on the "continuum
of care," such as skilled nursing, rehabilitative care, and
hospitalization?
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Staff and Residents
Organizations and facilities do not provide
services ~ people do. So the quality of an assisted living community can
be judged by how knowledgeable, thoughtful, and friendly its employees
are, and how its residents react to the care they’re receiving.
Find out about the range of services available and
the equipment and facilities that support those services ~ but also
observe the people involved. Are staff well-groomed? Friendly?
Interested in their jobs and the residents they serve? Do the residents
appear to be well cared for? Do they seem positive about themselves,
about other residents, and about staff?
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Programs for Quality Living
All services and no play won’t do. So, learn about
the opportunities available for socializing, recreating, exercising, and
~ just generally ~ staying active and independent. Will you have
transportation and organizing help for shopping and other outside
activities? Is there a varied and interesting program of events taking
place within the community or facility? Are family and friends
encouraged to visit and participate in those activities? Are residents
kept well informed about upcoming activities?
Building, Grounds, and Apartment/Unit
There are, of course, important factors to consider
about the grounds, building, and particular apartment or unit you are
considering. Does it provide adequate security? Is it easily accessible,
especially to persons with disabilities? Is it visually attractive? Does
it provide adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation?
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Financial and Contractual Details
Find out what your obligations will be ~ financial
and otherwise. Ask to see a copy of the rental or other agreement you’ll
be asked to sign. Remember, different assisted living providers have
different ways of structuring their fees. Some may include certain
services in a combined daily or monthly rate, while others may charge
separately for the same services.
And, finally, it’s important to know what you and
the other residents have a right to expect. Is there a statement of
residents’ rights and responsibilities? If so, ask for a copy and make
sure there will be no surprises after you have made your selection.
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Key Words and Phrases
"Activities of Daily Living"
or "ADLs" are the personal tasks each
person needs to accomplish on a regular basis. In an assisted
environment, trained staff provide each resident with assistance in
completing those ADLs he or she cannot complete independently. Examples
of ADLs include: shopping; preparing and eating meals; bathing,
grooming, and using the toilet; dressing; getting around and going
places; cleaning house and doing laundry; taking and keeping track of
medications.
"Care Planning" refers
to the process of developing and keeping current a plan for providing
personal care and health care services tailored to meet a resident’s
individual situation.
"Care Team" refers to
the group of caregivers involved in meeting a resident’s needs. In many
assisted living situations, the resident himself/herself and involved
family members are considered part of the care team.
"Continuum of Care"
refers to the spectrum of personal care and health care services that
extends from independent living with no services to hospitalization. An
assisted living residence is at the lower end of this range of options,
but it should be able to help assure convenient access to higher levels
of care because of its location and the transfer arrangements it has
with other health care providers.
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Ten Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Assisted Living Residence
Does this assisted living residence/community . . .
. . . seem committed to a set of core values that
puts the needs and interests of residents first?
. . . provide the right mix of services for your
personal care and health care?
. . . offer care planning to insure that your
current, as well as future, needs can and will be met?
. . . offer a varied and active program of social
and recreational opportunities?
. . . have a staff that seems knowledgeable,
friendly, well groomed, and professional in the way they serve the
residents?
. . . have residents who seem friendly, well cared
for, and as active and independent as possible?
. . . offer a building and grounds (including community rooms,
hallways, elevators, stairways, and outside walkways) that are
attractive, accessible, safe, and comfortable?
. . . have an available apartment/unit that meets
your needs and expectations?
. . . enjoy a location that is convenient for
outside activities, as well as visits by family and friends?
. . . do a good job explaining what financial and
contractual obligations you will have as a resident?
An excellent additional resource is
the "Resident and Family Guide to Long Term Care", from which this
information piece was taken. To order, call 800-448-5213. Or order
online at www.IlluminAge.com.
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