Regulating Assisted Living Centers

Assist the Living

It aims to improve the quality of their patients’ lives. This is a place where people with disabilities get the best possible care as they recuperate. This is where they continue living as normal people until they are completely healed.

They call this place, Assisted Living Centers (ALCs). There are so many assisted living centers in the country. These facilities provide patients with health care services, while monitoring their daily activities. These centers are out to ensure safety and well-being to their patients.

ALCs understand that the best way to deal with sickness is to provide a home atmosphere. Their patients, who have disabilities in themselves, would recover fast with them. They provide personal care with a feel of home, assisting them even as they mend their illnesses. Assisted living centers started its boom in the 90s. It’s an offshoot of the eldercare institutions that provide medical attention to the old. But with a difference. ALCs do not function like that of a retirement home.

Other assisted living centers do look like homes in themselves, not just the atmosphere. At times these living centers tend to feel like an apartment to these patients. It was born out of the idea that personal care and providing home-like services are perfect medical amenities in themselves.

Patients can also choose his or her own doctor in an ALC. Unlike in other facilities where patients have limited access, but with assisted living centers, they have the freedom to choose.

ALCs generally cater to those patients with disabilities. This is the reason why others have built larger bathrooms, kitchens with wheelchairs in it, rooms are wider, and hallways even have support railing.

Most assisted living centers conduct their businesses with providing constant medical upkeep as their main goal. And they align their services with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Parents and Assisted Living Centers – Things to Consider Before Moving

Assisted Living Centers, also referred as residential care, is a kind of living arrangement where personal and essential services for daily living is provided, especially for seniors. It also provides the emotional aspects needed such as security, feeling of belonging, and comfort. This is not similar to nursing homes. The main difference is that assisted living creates independence by letting residents live under normal residential settings.

When Moving a Parent

Deciding to move a beloved elderly parent into an assisted living is difficult. If you already made up your mind, then there are two certain things you need to consider before pushing through:

Cost

The charge for services varies, depending on location and type of care. Private Assisted Living centers range from $800 to more than $5, 000 a month. Add-ons that may need to be covered are medications, laundry service, security, and transportation. Comparing fees with different facilities can help you find the best option. Also, make sure to notice how often a facility raise their prices.

Now, who will pay for the cost? Medicaid pays for the services in assisted living centers, except for room and boarding. Not everyone can benefit this though, Medicaid does not cover those who have assets more than $2, 000. Overall, Medicaid can only pay less than 11% of the total cost.

As for Medicare, excluding those under Supplementary Security Income (SSI), more than 90% of the total cost will be paid by individuals or families. They will not pay for housing except for those who are mentally retarded and developmentally disabled.

Cost for assisted living may be cheap for those who have insurance. Depending on age, you can only pay 3-8% out of pocket cost for a three-year stay.

Residence

Local and national referral services exist in helping you decide where to find a good place for the elderly to live. The Department of Human Resources in every state can provide a list of public services. Private referral services can be of great help as well.

Shop around and visit as many residences as you can. Know what you need and find out if they can cater those. Better to talk to staff, residents, and other family members to know the current situation of the place.

Conclusion

Assisted living center are not cheap, so be ready for it. Also, since you are entrusting the lives of your beloved ones, make sure you find the best one you can find. So, take time in knowing these facilities. Once you have these two factors figured out, moving your parents would not be as difficult.

Assisted living centers are a type of assisted living facility which offers care services for eleven or more people. They have bigger facilities and equipped with basic medical equipments as well as with regular nurses or staff that will assist the patients. The purpose of these living centers is to offer personalized and patient-centered care which will focus on the needs and preferences of an individual. Though these centers have medical staff that will monitor and support the patients, they encourage the family members to be involved.

One of the basic needs of any individual is emotional connection which requires a family member’s presence. However, not all assisted living centers have been good with their services. There are many complaints from the residents and the family members. There are those who neglect some needs of the seniors like assistance in going to the bathroom, certain type of food or grooming. To ensure the compliance and to investigate complaints, an inspection is conducted once or twice a year. The Office of the Assisted Living Licensing monitors and regulates all assisted living centers all throughout the country.

The monitoring is usually unannounced to make sure that what they see during the visit is not a result of any preparation. The office can cancel licenses or penalized depending on the result of their investigation. By doing this, they are able to regulate the quality of performance of the assisted living centers. They also keep records and files regarding these centers which are open for public viewing. If you are looking for a good assisted living center for your loved one, you can access the files and ask for guidance and advice. Regulations will help improve the quality and the condition of the residents, but regular and constant evaluation will avoid mistreatment and bad practices of the assisted living centers.