My mom requires a lot of care-giving assistance at home and when she has to travel anywhere. But I'm not sure what type of residence facility is necessary for her needs.
Does your mom have memory problems? My mom has Alzheimer’s. She started out in ALF but has moved to memory care unit in the same facility. Her mind was getting worse and she needed help getting around.
Where I am in NY the AL would not take anyone in a wheelchair. They had to be able to walk to the dining room. Sadly it was the only deciding factor for mom having to go to a NH.
It really depends on the facility. Some assisted living facilities are like hotel rooms. Others have complete kitchens, separate living room, swimming pool, exercise rooms, game rooms with poker tables and pool tables.
Nursing homes have staff geared towards medical care. Some though, have volunteers that play music, sing, etc.
Both usually have an activity director that plan activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, bingo, etc. Both have religious services.
Facilities vary WIDELY here and you should visit some. There are often companies that will take you and your Mom visiting and you can learn on the spot how far they can go in care. The amount of money over the monthly room charge will depend on level of care needed. Someone who can take own meds, move about and who is not incontinent will be a level one, paying the least. Someone with more needs will move up in level and cost. Generally needing memory care or nursing home would indicate the need for a lot of care with hygiene and mobility and also memory deficits.
Go on line and print a list of activities is daily living and check off the items that your LO needs help with or can do on her own. Keep in mind there is independent living, assisted living, personal care, memory care and skilled nursing. The check list will give you an idea of her current abilities. Sometimes a person will fall between two levels and you will have to consider their age and expected long term abilities. If you get them started with getting used to other people helping them you can add on care as it is needed.
I think you also need a doctors order for a NH. Years ago one of the requirements for ALF was that the elder could transition themselves from wheelchair to commode or bed They had to have at least that level of mobility and be able to respond to a fire alarm. I was trying to get my inlaws into one after an evacuation and was given this info as a basic requirement.
You can "check into" a nursing home without a doctor's order, but the latter is needed for it to be covered by Medicare (to the limited extent that it can be), and for it to count as a medical deduction for tax purposes.
The amount of staff varies tremendously with each. Assisted living usually has 1 staff to 10-11 residents. Small homes (Care, Nursing, etc) 2 staff for 6 residents. As my sister's dementia and physical needs increased, moving her to 6 bed home was epic. This became her "home"...not "apartment." Less stimulation from a large facility brought a peaceful calmness. Her daily routines created harmony in her life. We got very lucky,
I never knew that assisted living facilities are so short staffed. I have visited one before to take my HHA certification and I noticed how the rooms are like apartments. Not realizing the other differences. Thank you for your response and the information.
Nursing homes are formerly called "skilled nursing facilities". They are facilities that care for those that require 24 hour nursing care. Financially, nursing homes are funded 75 % by Medicaid. Other payors are insurance, Medicare and self pay. Assisted living is considered "housing with services" and "comprehensive home care services". It is similar to renting an apartment with provided nursing care and assistance with daily activities. Basically, you are renting an apartment and contracting for home health services. Medicaid does not pay for assisted living. Most are self pay or "elderly waiver", which is a state funded way to pay for assisted living. Unfortunately, some in assisted living could qualify for nursing home care, so assisted living is not enough.
In the US, it’s assisted livings that mainly only take people who need help with their ADLs including bathing and toileting and medication management. Nursing Homes are generally more for those who need round the clock care, can’t perform their ADLs and meet certain medical requirements .
Nursing homes generally only accept people who need help with their ADL's - Bathing and showering, Personal hygiene and grooming, Dressing, Toilet hygiene, Functional mobility (often referred to as "transferring", as measured by the ability to walk, get in and out of bed, and get into and out of a chair independently), Self-feeding.
Nursing homes have staff geared towards medical care. Some though, have volunteers that play music, sing, etc.
Both usually have an activity director that plan activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, bingo, etc. Both have religious services.
Years ago one of the requirements for ALF was that the elder could transition themselves from wheelchair to commode or bed They had to have at least that level of mobility and be able to respond to a fire alarm. I was trying to get my inlaws into one after an evacuation and was given this info as a basic requirement.
She doesn't even want to go to a nursing home. Thank you
1 staff to 10-11 residents. Small homes (Care, Nursing, etc) 2 staff for 6 residents.
As my sister's dementia and physical needs increased, moving her to 6 bed home
was epic. This became her "home"...not "apartment." Less stimulation from a large facility brought a peaceful calmness. Her daily routines created harmony in her life. We got very lucky,
I have visited one before to take my HHA certification and I noticed how the rooms are like apartments. Not realizing the other differences.
Thank you for your response and the information.
Nursing homes provide dealing with medical requirements as well.