Assisted Living

What is assisted living?
Assisted living is a type of housing for people who need various levels of medical and personal care. Living spaces can be individual rooms, apartments, or shared quarters. The facilities generally provide a home-like setting and are physically designed to promote the residents' independence. Services are offered to assist residents with daily living.

What services do assisted-living communities provide?
The services offered by assisted-living communities vary from facility to facility. Services often include:

One to three meals a day
Monitoring of medication
Personal care, including dressing and bathing
Housekeeping and laundry
24-hour emergency care
Some medical services
Social and recreational activities

How can I know what services I need?
Talk with your family and caregivers about what services are needed. Take time to consider what services are important to you before you visit assisted-living communities. This step will help ease your transition. Think about these questions:

Why do I want to change my residence?
What daily activities do I need help with (bathing, dressing, toileting, eating)?
How often do I need help?

What should I look for in an assisted-living community?
The following checklist will help you and your family evaluate assisted-living facilities. Review the checklist before your visit to the facility and take it with you.

Assisted Living Consumer Checklist:

General Concerns

Does the residence meet local and/or state licensing requirements?
What is the policy on insurance and personal property?
What is the procedure for responding to a medical emergency?
Are visitors welcome at any time?

Needs Assessment

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?

Contracts, Costs, and Finances

Is a contract agreement available to include accommodations, personal care, healthcare 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 his or her own finances with staff assistance (if able), or should a family member or outside party be designated to do so?

Professional Staff

Is staff appropriately trained?
Did you receive a warm greeting from staff? Are staff members personable and outgoing?
Is staff appropriately dressed?
Do staff members greet residents by their first names and interact warmly with them?
Is staff available to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs?
Is staff available to assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses?

Residents and Atmosphere

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?

Facility Design

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 and cooled?

Medication and Healthcare

What is the residence policy regarding storage of medicines, assistance with medicines, and medicine record-keeping?
Is self-administration of medicine allowed?
Who coordinates visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other specialist if needed?
Does a doctor or nurse visit the residents regularly to provide medical checkups? Services
Is staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living, if needed? Do daily activities include:
Dressing
Eating
Mobility
Hygiene and grooming
Bathing, toileting, and incontinence assistance
Using the telephone
Shopping
Laundry
Housekeeping in unit
Transportation to doctor, hairdresser, or other activities

Features of Individual Units

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?

Social and Recreational Activities

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?

Food Service

Does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week?
Are snacks available?
May a resident request special foods?
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?

Assisted living is a congregate, residential setting that provides or coordinates personal care services, 24-hour supervision, assistance (scheduled and unscheduled), activities and health-related services.

Assisted living is a largely private-pay setting. Most long term care insurance policies today also provide coverage for assisted living services. Although an increased amount of government funding is being made available for assisted living, the overall involvement is not yet substantial. Several government programs provide funds for qualifying individuals that may be used to pay for assisted living services. The most widespread of these programs is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Individual states sometimes provide funding through Social Services Block Grants or other state-initiated programs. Historically, Medicaid has not been a factor in assisted living; but, as of 2002, 41 states had state plans, Home- and Community-Based Service (HCBS waivers), or Section 1115 waivers that allow at least some Medicaid funding for assisted living services. According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, a number of additional states are planning to offer Medicaid funding for assisted living services. Please inquire at your state Office on Aging for details.

Personal Care And Health Services:

Assisted living residences provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living (ADL's); coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to ensure his or her health, safety, and well being. Assistance may include the administration or supervision of medication, or certain personal care services by a trained staff person.

The residence may assist in arranging the appropriate medical, health, and dental care services for each resident. The resident generally chooses his or her medical doctor and dental services.

Residents who have periods of temporary incapacity due to illness, injury, or recuperation from surgery often are allowed to remain in the facility or to return from a rehabilitation center, skilled nursing facility or hospital if appropriate services can be provided by the assisted living residence. It is important to remember that assisted living residences are a bridge between living at home and living in a nursing home. Assisted living residences do not typically provide the level of continuous skilled nursing care found in nursing homes and hospitals.

Paying For Assisted Living:

Costs for assisted living residences vary greatly, and depend on the size of rooms, amenities, services provided, and location. Calculating the approximate cost is important as well as understanding what happens if private, personal funds are depleted. While Medicare does not cover assisted living, certain health care services may be available under specific, limited circumstances. The residence's management should be able to answer your questions concerning available assistance programs.

In addition, several private health and long term care insurance policies include assisted living/residential care coverage. However, the majority of assisted living costs are paid through personal finances of residents and/or their families.

Assisted Living Cost Calculator :

Family and prospective residents may use this worksheet in estimating the monthly cost of needed services. Not all items may be applicable to your situation. Space is provided to add items not covered in this calculator.

$___________ Entrance and/or Initial Assessment Fee

$___________ Selected Unit and Basic Service Package

$___________ Cost for Meals

$___________ Cost for Housekeeping

$___________ Cost for Personal Laundry Service

$___________ Cost for Linen Service

$___________ Cost for Medication Management or Assistance

$___________ Cost for Personal Care Assistance (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.)

$___________ Cost for Recreational Field Trips

$___________ Cost for Transportation

$___________ Cost for Telephone Service

$___________ Cost for Cable Television

$___________ Beauty Shop Charges

$___________ Other Charges

$___________ Total Estimated Monthly Charges


		Assisted Living What is assisted living? Assisted living is a type of housing for people who need various levels of medical and personal care. Living spaces can be individual rooms, apartments, or shared quarters. The facilities generally provide a home-like setting and are physically designed to promote the residents' independence. Services are offered to assist residents with daily living. What services do assisted-living communities provide? The services offered by assisted-living communities vary from facility to facility. Services often include: One to three meals a day Monitoring of medication Personal care, including dressing and bathing Housekeeping and laundry 24-hour emergency care Some medical services Social and recreational activities How can I know what services I need? Talk with your family and caregivers about what services are needed. Take time to consider what services are important to you before you visit assisted-living communities. This step will help ease your transition. Think about these questions: Why do I want to change my residence? What daily activities do I need help with (bathing, dressing, toileting, eating)? How often do I need help? What should I look for in an assisted-living community? The following checklist will help you and your family evaluate assisted-living facilities. Review the checklist before your visit to the facility and take it with you. Assisted Living Consumer Checklist: General Concerns Does the residence meet local and/or state licensing requirements? What is the policy on insurance and personal property? What is the procedure for responding to a medical emergency? Are visitors welcome at any time? Needs Assessment 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? Contracts, Costs, and Finances Is a contract agreement available to include accommodations, personal care, healthcare 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 his or her own finances with staff assistance (if able), or should a family member or outside party be designated to do so? Professional Staff Is staff appropriately trained? Did you receive a warm greeting from staff? Are staff members personable and outgoing? Is staff appropriately dressed? Do staff members greet residents by their first names and interact warmly with them? Is staff available to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs? Is staff available to assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses? Residents and Atmosphere 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? Facility Design 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 and cooled? Medication and Healthcare What is the residence policy regarding storage of medicines, assistance with medicines, and medicine record-keeping? Is self-administration of medicine allowed? Who coordinates visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other specialist if needed? Does a doctor or nurse visit the residents regularly to provide medical checkups? Services Is staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living, if needed? Do daily activities include: Dressing Eating Mobility Hygiene and grooming Bathing, toileting, and incontinence assistance Using the telephone Shopping Laundry Housekeeping in unit Transportation to doctor, hairdresser, or other activities Features of Individual Units 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? Social and Recreational Activities 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? Food Service Does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week? Are snacks available? May a resident request special foods? 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? Assisted living is a congregate, residential setting that provides or coordinates personal care services, 24-hour supervision, assistance (scheduled and unscheduled), activities and health-related services. Assisted living is a largely private-pay setting. Most long term care insurance policies today also provide coverage for assisted living services. Although an increased amount of government funding is being made available for assisted living, the overall involvement is not yet substantial. Several government programs provide funds for qualifying individuals that may be used to pay for assisted living services. The most widespread of these programs is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Individual states sometimes provide funding through Social Services Block Grants or other state-initiated programs. Historically, Medicaid has not been a factor in assisted living; but, as of 2002, 41 states had state plans, Home- and Community-Based Service (HCBS waivers), or Section 1115 waivers that allow at least some Medicaid funding for assisted living services. According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, a number of additional states are planning to offer Medicaid funding for assisted living services. Please inquire at your state Office on Aging for details. Personal Care And Health Services: Assisted living residences provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living (ADL's); coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to ensure his or her health, safety, and well being. Assistance may include the administration or supervision of medication, or certain personal care services by a trained staff person. The residence may assist in arranging the appropriate medical, health, and dental care services for each resident. The resident generally chooses his or her medical doctor and dental services. Residents who have periods of temporary incapacity due to illness, injury, or recuperation from surgery often are allowed to remain in the facility or to return from a rehabilitation center, skilled nursing facility or hospital if appropriate services can be provided by the assisted living residence. It is important to remember that assisted living residences are a bridge between living at home and living in a nursing home. Assisted living residences do not typically provide the level of continuous skilled nursing care found in nursing homes and hospitals. Paying For Assisted Living: Costs for assisted living residences vary greatly, and depend on the size of rooms, amenities, services provided, and location. Calculating the approximate cost is important as well as understanding what happens if private, personal funds are depleted. While Medicare does not cover assisted living, certain health care services may be available under specific, limited circumstances. The residence's management should be able to answer your questions concerning available assistance programs. In addition, several private health and long term care insurance policies include assisted living/residential care coverage. However, the majority of assisted living costs are paid through personal finances of residents and/or their families. Assisted Living Cost Calculator : Family and prospective residents may use this worksheet in estimating the monthly cost of needed services. Not all items may be applicable to your situation. Space is provided to add items not covered in this calculator. $___________ Entrance and/or Initial Assessment Fee $___________ Selected Unit and Basic Service Package $___________ Cost for Meals $___________ Cost for Housekeeping $___________ Cost for Personal Laundry Service $___________ Cost for Linen Service $___________ Cost for Medication Management or Assistance $___________ Cost for Personal Care Assistance (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.) $___________ Cost for Recreational Field Trips $___________ Cost for Transportation $___________ Cost for Telephone Service $___________ Cost for Cable Television $___________ Beauty Shop Charges $___________ Other Charges $___________ Other Charges $___________ Other Charges $___________ Total Estimated Monthly Charges