Are there different types of assisted living communities?
What services do most assisted living facilities provide?
At what point will the assisted living community say they can no longer care for my loved one?
What costs are associated with assisted living?
Can my loved one continue to receive therapy (physical, occupational, speech) while at an assisted living community?
What supplemental financing is available for assisted living?
What are the benefits of having my loved one stay in an assisted living community as opposed to having a home health agency or private care taker come to his/her home each day?
What are the terms of the contract?
Who will determine if my loved one fits the criteria for assisted living?
What are the main regulations the state has for assisted living communities?
Are there different types of assisted living communities?
Yes.There are two different types of assisted living communities. There are assisted living type I communities and type II communities. Assisted living communities that are licensed for type II can care for residents that require either type I or II; however, a community that is only licensed as type I cannot care for someone who requires a type II facility.
The difference between type I and type II is as follows: Residents in type I can receive assistance with up to two Activities of Daily Living ; whereas, residents in a type II assisted living community can receive assistance with all of their Activities of Daily Living. Type I communities can care for individuals who are capable of achieving mobility sufficient to exit the facility without the assistance of another person. Type II communities can care for individuals who are sufficiently mobile to exit the facility with the limited assistance of one person. If you have any questions on whether or not your loved one needs type I or type II, you can ask any facility. This is usually not a concern you need to worry about because most large facilities are type II. For further questions, call us at (877) 979-9989.
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What services do most assisted living facilities provide?
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living such as bathing, dressing, personal grooming (including oral hygiene and denture care), toileting (and toileting hygiene), eating, and mobility (transferring and ambulating). Certified Nursing Assistants are on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medication Assistance (some call it medication management or other terms) where a staff member will distribute medications to your loved one and will document this in the medical record. Medications will be ordered regularly by the facility when needed from the pharmacy.
Beauty Salons are usually on-site and most facilities will have an agreement with a podiatrist that will come out on a monthly basis to treat those residents in need of nail care. Meals will be provided (in most cases, all 3 meals). Depending on the facility, transportation may or may not be provided to doctor appointments.
At what point will the assisted living community say they can no longer care for my loved one?
When your loved one requires services that must only be provided by a licensed nurse (Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse) and that time is going to last more than 15 days, at that point your loved one may require a hospital or skilled nursing facility (also known as a rehab facility, nursing home, or convalescent home). Also, if a facility is unable to meet the needs of your loved one or if he/she poses a threat to the safety or well being of self or others, at that point you may need to move to a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
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What costs are associated with assisted living?
Most facilities will have a room and board rate that is the basic cost of the resident's stay. This will usually include three meals a day, weekly housekeeping with bed linens and towels being washed, access to emergency assistance, maintenance, access to facility amenities, transportation (by appointment for doctor visits or scenic rides), activities, and access to laundry facilities. Utilities are usually included in the room and board also. Phone services are usually not included and cable television varies from community to community. Medication management fees vary from facility to facility. In some, there is a separate fee for this service costing anywhere from $8-12/day. In other facilities, medication management is built into the room and board fee or the care charges.
Can my loved one continue to receive therapy (physical, occupational, speech) from a home health agency while at an assisted living community?
Yes. Home health agencies can visit residents living in an assisted living community if they qualify for home health. Outpatient therapy may be a better alternative if your loved one often leaves the community with family or friends. For specific questions regarding home health or if you are looking for a good referral of a home health agency, please call us.
What supplemental financing is available for assisted living?
VA, Flexcare (New Choices Waiver), and some long-term care insurances (these are usually too expensive if you wait until your loved one requires assisted living before purchasing this type of insurance plan). If you're loved one or the spouse of your loved one served in the military, chances are, he or she will be eligible for a benefit from the VA. The veteran in assisted living could potentially receive up to $1800/month for assisted living services and the surviving spouse could potentially receive up to $900/month for assisted living services. This benefit is called Aid and Attendance. Please call us for further details about this benefit. It will be worth it.
Flexcare (a.k.a. New Choices Waiver) is the medicaid program for assisted living communities. You must first become eligible for Medicaid and be on Medicaid. Then, the resident must reside in a skilled nursing facility (nursing home/rehab facility) for a 90-day period for an observation period where staff members will assess your loved ones needs to verify they are in need of assistance and that assisted living would be appropriate. Once approved for the New Choices Waiver program, you will need to find an assisted living facility that has a room available for this program. New Choices Waiver will cover the cost of all care and then the facility and the resident and/or family of the resident will negotiate the room and board rate. This can vary anywhere from $400 up to $1200/month.
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What are the benefits of having my loved one stay in an assisted living community as opposed to having a home health agency or private care taker come to his/her home each day?
Home health agencies will usually only send an aid out for about one hour each day; whereas, in an assisted living community, there will be aides on staff at all times. If a private care taker charges even $10 an hour and you want someone there 24 hours a day, it could end up costing over $7,000 each month; significantly more than monthly fees for an assisted living community.
What are the terms of the contract?
In most cases you have to sign a month-to-month contract. Some facilities offer what is called ?respite stay.? This is where you will usually pay a higher daily rate and be able to have your loved one stay for a few days or a few weeks instead of doing a month-to-month contract.
Who will determine if my loved one fits the criteria for assisted living?
A registered nurse either employed or contracted by the assisted living community will do an assessment to ensure that regulatory speaking, your loved one meets the criteria for assisted living. Also, there are a few simple forms that your loved one's physician will need to fill out stating that they are appropriate for assisted living as well.
What are the main regulations the state has for assisted living communities?
For Utah State regulations Click here.
