With 6.5 million Americans requiring help with daily living activities, such as dressing and bathing, many are turning to Assisted Living facilities or communities as a means to continuing to live independently.
But the same care and consideration for choosing a home healthcare provider or long-term care facility needs to be done with assisted living communities, and, once there, you and your family need to be alert to make sure your needs are being met.
Philosophy of Care
Many people do not know that assisted living facilities are governed independently by each state, and those facilities that are members of the Assisted Living Federation of America subscribe to a 10-point philosophy of care:
1. To offer cost-effective quality care that is personalized to each individual’s needs
2. To foster independence for each resident
3. To treat each resident with dignity and respect
4. To promote the individuality of each resident
5. To allow each resident choice of care and lifestyle
6. To protect each resident’s right to privacy
7. To nurture the spirit of each resident
8. To involve family and friends, as appropriate, in care planning and implementation
9. To provide a safe, residential environment
10. To make the assisted living residence a valuable community asset. (Wisconsin Assisted Living Association)
What can you Expect from Assisted Living
According to the Assisted Living Federation of America, your assisted living community/residence should provide:
• Three meals a day served in a common dining area
• Housekeeping services
• Transportation
• 24-hour security
• Exercise and wellness programs
• Personal laundry services
• Social and recreational activities
• Staff available to respond to both scheduled and unscheduled needs
• Assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and walking
• Access to health and medical services
• Emergency call systems for each residential apartment
• Medication management
• Care for residents with cognitive impairments
If your facility fails to provide this quality of care, you need to report the facility and responsible care providers to your state health board.
Sources: Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (http://www.ewala.org/forconsumers/whatisassistedliving.cfm); Assisted Living Federation of America (http://www.alfa.org/alfa/default.asp)
Edited by Shannon Koehle