Ry Rule wil aN on dh sale next en acti “a7 hee oIy“ihe Tg Nth rece tea il al s and thi wit Lal sale ne ae bref fUPe Sqr a ceiA on Mes, 7As7 ~a pet an Trace Nene a C a oeof Gg nene mec oer or i.‘na by Ethel Mitty, EdD, RN (NAPSA)—Assisted living (AL) is a residential option for older adults who are too frail to live independently, but do not need the 24-hour skilled nursing and medical services of a nursing home. AL facilities offer a combination of supportive, personal and healthrelated services designed to maximize the resident’s independence, privacy, dignity, choices and safety. Facilities typically provide three meals a day in a common dining room; housekeeping and personal laundry services; assistance with bathing, dressing andtoileting; 24hoursecurity and staff availability; social and recreational activities; access to health and medicalservices (transportation may or may not be provided at no cost); and medical supervision or assistance. Costs vary with the type of unit andintensity of service needed by the resident, and may include additional charges for special help. When considering a particular ALfacility, ask for written material, particularly the “resident” or “service” agreement that describes, at a minimum,the services, prices, extra charges, admission, retention and discharge criteria, staffing, programs and services. Think about your current and future health needs and interests and ask about continued eligibility if your health deteriorates. In mostfacilities, a new resident will retain his/her community physician, who performs the pre-admission and ongoing assessments that the person is eligible and can safely reside in an AL facility. Questions to ask include wheth- er there are registered nurses on site; the kind of medication assistance provided; if the services of a rehabilitation therapist are provided or arranged; the number of awake and available staff at night; and if there is a resident council and a complaint or grievance process. Find out if the facility is affiliated with a particular hospital or nursing home andif there FOR OLDER ee AES An assisted living facility may be the right place, but be sure to choosethe right one for you. are reduced charges while temporarily out of the facility for medical and/or skilled nursingcare. Visit a prospective facility several times andat different times of day. Look at its dcor, try to get a sense of the atmosphere, staff warmth, residents’ appearance, overall cleanliness and absence of unpleasant odors. Get a sense of the floor plan andif hallways, doors and elevators can easily accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. Go into the dining area and observe the presentation of meals for variety of foods, attractiveness, and amount and for staff assistance. Can the door to a resident’s apartment or unit be locked? Observe whether residents can bring someof their own furniture, hang their pictures, have a telephone and have a private bathroom. Find out the rules regarding smoking, eating in the room, stay-over guests andpets. Assisted living is a lifestyle change. It is like moving to a new neighborhood andhasall the complexity and anxiety associated with a new physical, social and cultural environment. For more information and guidance on choosing a facility, visit the Web sites at www.aarp.org, www.alfa. org and www.ncaLorg. Ethel Mitty is long-term care consultant, The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, Division of Nursing, The Steinhardt School of Education, New York University.
