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What is Assisted Living?
It's no surprise that this term is confusing to many people. Even people within the Senior Housing and Care industries use the term "Assisted Living" to describe services offered in many different settings.
Broadly speaking, the term "Assisted Living" can mean that "care services are available" at some particular level. This term is often used where a distinction is necessary to differentiate between "retirement or independent living" where care services are not so readily available (or not available at all) and a community or facility in which services are readily available.
The term "Assisted Living" may be used to describe:- Personal and/or nursing services received in a Retirement or Assisted Living community
- Care received in an Adult Family Home
- Care received in certain areas of a Skilled Nursing Facility
- Care received in your own private home
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Bathing
- Toileting
- Eating / Meals
- Transferring or mobility assistance (getting up out of a chair and walking)
- Medication monitoring or distribution
- Housekeeping & laundry services
- Activities and social opportunities
Retirement living providers tend to prefer using the term "Assisted Living" when describing their services, because the term "Boarding Home" conjures up thoughts of a place to simply rent a room and get a meal. Assisted Living offers much, much more than simply room and board.
Some Retirement Living and Assisted Living Providers license their entire building as a Boarding Home. Other Providers only license only a certain number of apartments to comply with these licensing and subsequent regulatory requirements.
A Boarding Home that provides assisted living services operates under Washington State Law and Regulations.
Assisted Living In An Adult Family Home
Adult Family Homes are private homes that care for two to six individuals. The Adult Family Home industry uses the term "assisted living" much in the same way as a Boarding Home. The Adult Family Home industry is also a highly regulated industry that must follow very specific laws and procedures.
Assisted Living In A Skilled Nursing Facility
Skilled Nursing Facilities (also known as Nursing Homes, Transitional Care Units or Rehabilitation Facilities) may offer "assisted living" services in part of their building or within a neighboring community. Most services promoted as "assisted living" within Skilled Nursing Facilities are focused on dementia care.
Assisted Living In A Private Home
Finally, in-home care and chore service agencies have recently started using the word "assisted living" to explain personal care services delivered in a person's private home.
When arranging for Assisted Living services at home, it is critical to discuss what services a provider does and does not offer. Consider arranging for a nursing assessment to define the types of personal and nursing care needs an individual has now and may need in the future.
Nursing Assessments
A nursing assessment is conducted by a Registered Nurse or other qualified assessor to define the physical, emotional, psychosocial and medical history and needs of an individual. The nursing assessment is utilized to write an individualized plan of care to appropriately meet the short- and long-term needs on and individual.
Your family physician or ARNP is not likely well versed in completing the state-mandated assessment forms. Typically your family physician or ARNP will help support a nurse assessor or social worker by providing this individual with necessary information and history to complete the assessment.
To arrange for a nursing assessment, you can contact either a Referral & Placement Agency or a Private Case or Care Manager.
If you have already selected an Assisted Living community or if you have already arranged for services, it is possible that the care community or care provider will provide an assessment of care and nursing needs. It is required by law that an individual have an assessment completed by a qualified assessor prior to admission.
If someone you know requires care within an Assisted Living Community (Boarding Home) or care within an Adult Family Home or Dementia/Alzheimer's Care, please contact CHOICE Advisory Services at 1-800-361-0138 to arrange a complimentary nurse assessment and consultation.*
Call CHOICE Advisory Services at 1-800-361-0138 for personalized assistance in finding the best options to meet your specific needs.
*CHOICE provides complimentary Geriatric Nursing Assessments to individuals that are paying privately for housing and care services, or that are receiving insurance benefits from long-term care insurance. CHOICE does not offer assessments for individuals applying for or receiving state assistance through Medicaid / COPES. The State of Washington provides the nurse assessment through the Department of Social & Health Services for individuals who have outlived or nearly outlived their savings.
Call CHOICE at 800-361-0138 for a free,
in-home consultation or guidance by phone or email
Last update: 2007-04-23 21:43
Author: Tech Support
Revision: 1.0
