A Closer Look: Assisted Living/ Residential Care Homes

Assisted living housing is as diverse as our nation’s older adult population. Care can be provided in a residential home in your neighborhood or in a large apartment complex downtown. Residents may require little assistance or require help with achieving most of their daily routines. Assisted living care can be part of a continuum of services at a multilevel continuing care retirement community (CCRC) or a free-standing facility. There are many ways to provide these services. Because of the overwhelming choice available, it is crucial to understand, at a minimum, the older adults’ needs that are present and anticipated. In this way, time is spent looking at assisted living homes that can provide the appropriate type of care.

Residential Care Homes offer a unique type of assisted living care. These types of settings are ideal for those looking for a more intimate, home-like environment.

To take a closer look at Assisted Living and Residential Care, choose a category below:

Services
Accommodations
Staff
Building/ Physical Environment
Security
Cost
Checklist
More Resources

Services:
Assisted living care facilities must be licensed to provide care in certain states. In the state of Texas, state licensure is dependent on the level of care residents require. For more details about these licensure requirements, visit the Texas Department of Aging's website on licensing standards.

Homes with a Type A licensure provide services for residents who need basic assistance with personal care. This may include help with dressing, bathing, toileting, and housekeeping. Some homes limit the hours that these services are available. Additional charges may be incurred should residents require more than these basic personal services. Residents must also be able to ambulate independently, or get around without assistance in using a walker, wheelchair or other mobility equipment.

Homes with a Type B licensure can care for residents with higher levels of need. In addition to the services provided by a Type A licensed home, services at these homes can include assistance with mobility and positioning for residents who cannot fully bear their own weight or use mobility aids independently. Assistance may be tiered by levels of care or by service type, allowing a resident the flexibility of assistance should needs change.In either type of licensure, assisted living care is exactly that. Services are designed to assist a resident in activities of daily living (ADLs), thereby promoting their independence, dignity and quality of life while allowing them to age in place. Residents who cannot participate in some way in their self-care will be counseled on supplemental services that are available or alternative care that may be necessary. Assisted living services are not designed to provide total care or clinical care on a 24 hour basis, although some homes will accept outside providers to supplement any needs beyond the scope of customary services such as home health, personal care assistants, or hospice.

Homes with a Type C licensure are typically adult foster homes having no more than four beds.

Type E licensed assisted living care homes provide medication supervision, but residents must be independent with dressing, bathing, meals, and mobility.

Residential care homes may not have a license if they have three or fewer beds in their building. If they have four or more beds, they must operate under a license in the state of Texas.

Promoting quality of life includes enriching the social needs of each individual. A wide range of activities may include on-site and off-site events. Many homes will provide transportation and supervision for off-site excursions. Meals are also included, and many assisted livings offer therapeutic meals requiring any special textures or diet restrictions. Often an assisted living home will have a medical physician, dental provider and/or home health provide clinical supervision conveniently on-site. Residents may choose to use these services for all their clinical needs.

Accommodations:
Residents can have private or shared rooms, and meals are usually offered in a dining room with other residents. However, residents may have the option of having their meals served in their rooms. Some homes may allow residents to have a refrigerator, microwave or other simple appliances. Bathroom facilities should have safety features, such as raised toilets and grab bars. In all cases, residents should have the ability to bring in their own furnishings to make their new accommodations a true reflection of their personality.Occasionally, the homes have apartments with living areas and full or partial kitchens. There are several common areas, both in and outdoors, to socialize or to enjoy a quiet change of scenery.

Staff:

Staff requirements in assisted living care have changed in the past decade, with a greater focus on acquiring and developing more highly skilled and more clinically-trained staff. With this workforce, staff is better equipped to meet the needs of an older population having widespread disability and complex medical needs. In addition to the staff providing direct care for residents’ personal needs, housekeeping staff and dining services staff provide additional support for resident care. Usually, an activities director will coordinate all social events as well as one-on-one visits with residents who prefer more solitary pursuits. Administrative personnel may address concerns with residents and caregivers to assure the quality of services provided. In total, these and other staff members combine their efforts to create a respectful and homelike environment while caring for a diverse group of residents.

In a Resident Care setting, staff often fulfill multiple roles to meet the needs of each resident. It is common for care attendants to cook meals, supervise medication use, and clean the home in addition to providing all the personal care needs of each resident.

Building/ Physical Environment:
While there is an enormous amount of variety in how assisted living care is provided, states mandate certain criteria for the physical structure of licensed assisted living homes. Homes must be compliant with disability laws. It must have features, such as wide hallways and ramps, enabling residents with wheelchairs and walkers to pass each other safely. It must have grab bars and railings for safe mobility. It must have fire safety features, such as overhead sprinklers and an alarm system. Architects specializing in long term care housing design these special features to blend into the existing structures yet still serve significant purpose for resident safety.

However, assisted living companies take great pride in differentiating themselves through their environment. It is not surprising to find that the owners and staff pour many hours and dollars into finer details and furnishings throughout the building or in major renovations. After all, they are creating a home for their residents, and attention to details make a home comfortable, endearing, and distinctive.

Security:
Ideally, an assisted living has one entryway that is staffed by a receptionist and locked after business hours. After business hours, anyone visiting the building may be required to ring a doorbell to be allowed entry. Guests may be required to sign in upon arrival and sign out upon departure, as well as wear a visitor’s identification badge. Residents may also be required to sign in and out. There is typically a monitoring camera system in common areas, although this may not include parking lots. If a community has residents with confusion and wandering behaviors, the home may have more stringent monitoring policies.For various reasons, some residents or their responsible party may request a monitoring device in a resident’s room. A community has their own policy regarding monitoring equipment in resident rooms that comply with state mandates regarding resident privacy. Administrative staff will be able to respond to any questions regarding this matter.

Human resource policies also provide a level of safety regarding hiring practices. Criminal histories and current licensure are checked on all prospective hires. Staff should have some type of identification readily visible at all times.

Cost: $1750-4500 per month

Checklists:

Does your loved one require Assisted Living care?
- Identifying immediate and long-term needs and gettting recommedations through a primary healthcare provider can help determine if assisted living care is the right solution.
- Find a healthcare provider in your area
Do you know your choice of providers available in your desired area?
- Providers can be classified by your preferences to narrow your choices. Identify what's important to you and your loved one.
- Search for assisted living providers in your area
- View your state's department of aging website for inspection records on licensed assisted living communities. View Texas' Department of Aging Website.
- Need personal assistance? Contact the experts at www.seniorsperfectsolution.com for a customized list of providers.
Have you visited the communities you are interested in?
- Taking a personal tour gives you a sense of the environment, staff and residents so you know whether it's a fit.
- Top 10 touring tips to make the most of your personal tour.
Are you ready for move-in day?
- Get all your facts in line to avoid feeling overwhelmed when the day arrives.
- Top 10 must-haves for move-in
What can you do to ease the transition of move-in?
- The first few weeks after move-in determine the resident's happiness with their new home.
- Top 10 ideas about easing the transition into senior housing
What can you do to make the stay a success?
- It takes a team approach to caregiving
- Top 10 people to know in your assisted living

Learn more:
A Perfect Solution...Senior Care Locators
Monitoring Devices: Request in the state of Texas





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