| In the past we cared for our elderly family members | | | | independent. |
| by having them move into our homes and live with | | | | Assisted Living |
| us. Or, we had an unmarried aunt or cousin stay with | | | | This category is for people who don't need the |
| them. These days with both parents working and | | | | expense or intense level of care of a nursing home |
| children going from school to practice and other | | | | but they can't live on their own any longer. They |
| dates, the elderly find themselves living elsewhere. | | | | may be wheel chair bound; have some degree of |
| How do you and your relative decide what sort of | | | | dementia that makes them forgetful; blindness; |
| place is needed for his/her care? You need to learn | | | | deafness; they are not able to live totally alone for |
| everything you can about the services that are | | | | other reasons. These facilities offer a combination of |
| offered and the skill level of those services. | | | | health care, personal support, housing, meals, and |
| There are two different kinds of facilities: skilled care | | | | activities. There is 24 hour staff available to assist |
| and unskilled care. | | | | with medication, bathroom issues, and housekeeping. |
| Skilled Care | | | | The staff is trained to assess the person's care and |
| Skilled care is for the person who has medical needs | | | | monitor their health. Assisted Living Facilities do not |
| or needs that exceed those of a companion or | | | | accept bedridden people or people who require 24 |
| assisted living facility. This type of facility falls under | | | | hour nursing care. Assisted Living Facilities are not |
| the banner of skilled nursing home or home | | | | required by license to have a nurse on staff. Assisted |
| healthcare. | | | | Living Facilities (ALF) are licensed and inspected by |
| Skilled Care offers services like: diabetic care; kidney | | | | the state. |
| failure care; wound care; post stroke care; cancer | | | | People often move to assisted living facilities because |
| care; tube feeding; post surgery care; IV therapy; | | | | they don't want to be a burden on their children. The |
| cardiac care/rehab; break or fracture care. | | | | ALF allows them to have some modicum of |
| Unskilled Care | | | | independence without surrendering all of their control. |
| Unskilled care is for the person who doesn't need | | | | It also allows the family to have a feeling that their |
| medical services and just needs some minimal daily | | | | loved one is safe. ALF offer social events such as |
| assistance. Assisted Living facilities fall under this | | | | parties, dances, movies, bingo, outings, and day |
| banner. | | | | shopping trips. Residents are usually more |
| Unskilled care offers services like: bathing; | | | | comfortable with people their own age and with |
| transportation; medicine supervision; shopping; | | | | similar likes and dislikes and are free to spend their |
| housekeeping; eating or feeding oneself; dressing; | | | | time in their own room or apartment if they prefer. |
| bathroom assistance; grooming; hygiene. | | | | Some ALFs offer "respite" care. Care giving family |
| Independent Living | | | | members can take a vacation for a week or two |
| Independent Living is where residents live | | | | weeks and the family member who needs the care |
| independently and on their own with others of similar | | | | can stay at the assisted living facility. This gives |
| age. They are 55 or older; responsible for their own | | | | everyone peace of mind. |
| utilities, personal care, meals, laundry and house | | | | Some ALFs offer adult day care services. This allows |
| cleaning. They live in their own small apartment that is | | | | the care giver to continue to work at his/her job and |
| a part of a campus/community with planned | | | | to care for the family member at night and on |
| activities, trips and programs. | | | | weekends. |
| A second level of Independent living has limited | | | | Assisted Living Facilities may be the answer to your |
| services. The residents still live in small apartments on | | | | care giving problems. |
| their own in a campus style community. The | | | | Whatever your situation, it is a good idea to discuss |
| community handles all utilities, housekeeping, meals, | | | | living arrangements for when you or your loved ones |
| laundry and plans activities and trips to doctors and | | | | grow older. It will give you a chance to learn about |
| shopping. | | | | preferences and resources. You can then research |
| Independent living is not considered in the assisted | | | | facilities and make the best decision for everyone |
| living category. Independent living means just that; | | | | involved. |