In this issue:
September 4, 2010
"Daily Living" At An Assisted Living Community
Part Five of Susan's Nine Part Series
If you have missed any part of Susan's extremely insightful series on Assisted Living, just "click here" and email us. Be sure to be specific about what "Parts" of the series you missed and we will send them to you right away.
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"Daily Living"
Part Five of Nine on Assisted Living
Today, my client led out with
"when I go to the nursing home..."
She is not going to a nursing
home, she is going to a beautiful facility. It's like the Love Boat!
Assisted living is not institutionalized
care. It is intended to be apartment living with perks. These perks
take the form of congregate meals and the availability of assistance
with activities of daily living. Other perks can be found on the social
calendars around the facility.
Still, there are legitimate
questions that must be answered about daily living. So here goes...
(Remember, if you do not wish to read the entire newsletter, but would like to ask me any questions, call me at 1 (888) 422-6070 or email me, susan@mymomnpop.com )
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Telephones
A state regulation requires
that a resident must have access to a telephone to make and receive confidential calls, although a facility can require reimbursement for
"long distance calls."
A manual used by the Department of Social
Services further explains that a facility may satisfy its requirements
with a pay telephone, as long as the facility gives residents change
to pay for local calls.
Visitors
In general, a resident can
meet visitors in an assisted living facility during reasonable hours
of the day. The facility must assure that a resident and visitor are
able to meet privately, if desired. Most facilities will allow a guest
to spend up to two weeks in the apartment with a resident. I often have
clients whose children live out of state and they are thrilled to know
that their son or daughter can stay with them.
Roommates
Most facilities have several
hosing options for residents. Many have studios, one bed rooms and shared
suites. As is probably obvious, a resident who opts for a single room
must generally pay a higher monthly rate. Pursuant to state law however,
no more than two residents are allowed to sleep in one bedroom.
Bathroom facilities
Regulations provide that an
assisted living facility must provide at least one toilet and sink for
each six residents. A facility also must
provide at least one bathtub
or shower for each ten residents. All of the facilities that I
have visited have a bathroom and shower in the room. Many also have
bathrooms and showers scattered about the facility.
What indoor temperatures
are acceptable?
Resident rooms must be heated
to at least 68 degrees. The rooms must be cooled to a "comfortable
range" between 78 and 85 degrees.
These rules do not prevent
a resident from adjusting a thermostat in his room to his own preferences.
How must a facility serve
meals?
An assisted living facility
must offer
residents at least three meals each day. Dinner during the
evening and breakfast the following morning cannot be separated by more
than fifteen hours.
Tray service- delivering meals to the resident's
room- must be provided as necessary. Most facilities will do this
without a charge a few times if the resident is sick, but after that
they will charge a small fee. If you see that a fee is being assessed
for this you might start to wonder why our loved one is not going down
for meals regularly.
Meals must meet nutritional
guidelines, and consist of an appropriate variety of foods. They also
must be planned with consideration for resident's cultural and religious
backgrounds and food habits.
If necessary, a facility must
offer meals that meet a resident's doctor-prescribed guidelines. In
addition, a facility must chop or grind food for residents who have
difficulty swallowing.
Snack Time
Facilities are required to
provide between-meal snacks to a resident unless the snacks are prohibited
or limited by dietary restrictions prescribed by the resident's doctor.
Activities
An assisted living facility
must
provide activities to make residents' lives as complete as possible.
Activities must
promote socialization among residents and give residents
contact with events outside of the facility. Most facilities have their
own transportation so that they can take their residents to lunch or
to a picnic or to the supermarket.
A facility also must provide
special programs that address the needs and limitations of residents
with dementia. Facilities must make available to residents a variety
of planned activities, including: group discussions, arts and crafts,
music, games, exercise, educational classes, and access to community
activities such as religious observances, concerts, and plays.
Can a facility prevent residents
from leaving the facility?
Certain assisted living facilities
have approval from the Department of Social Services to prevent residents
from leaving. A resident can be admitted to such a "secured perimeters"
facility only if the resident is placed in the facility by a conservator
with appropriate legal authority, or if the resident consents to live
in the facility. These are typically dementia units.
Certain other assisted living
facilities have "delayed egress" doors that delay, but do not prevent,
a resident's exit from the building. These doors electronically notify
a staff member when a resident is leaving the building. After being
notified, the staff member may try to convince the resident to remain
in the building, but the staff member may not prevent the resident from
leaving.
Other facilities have parking
spaces for their residents who are still driving and independent.
HAVE A GREAT LABOR DAY AND
DON'T WORK TOO HARD!!!!!!!
Part Six of Susan's Nine Part Series On Assisted Living -
Coming Next Week
THE MAGNIFICENT MRS. MB
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want to join me on my elder care journey with the magnificent Mrs. MB, just click on http://mymomnpop.com
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Remember, if you have an urgent question, or just wish to speak to me directly, you can email or call, susan@mymomnpop.com or (310) 897-7434.
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