mean laundry or only linens, or also personal clothing), social activities, well-being checks, and transportation to doctors and outings. For an additional cost, personal care assistance can be purchased, either on-site or from an outside home care company( see above). Some independent living buildings are federally or state subsidized; however, most are private-pay. Families need to ask detailed, specific questions about what features and services are and are not included in the cost of any one independent living facility. Costs and inclusions can vary greatly.
Assisted Living
Assisted living refers to an entire building, a specified unit of a building, or a part of a continuing care retirement community( CCRC) that is licensed to provide 24-hour-a-day personal care for activities of daily living, in addition to offering the basic services of independent living( see above): meals, housekeeping, and social programs. However, the assisted living license— and its definition of which care services or how many— can differ from state-to-state. Assisted living is the fastest-growing type of residential care with the most discrepancy in definition. Again, it is crucial for prospective residents to ask very specific questions as to the type of care— and caregivers— offered in a particular building. In general, assisted living caregivers are trained, certified aides who assist with daily tasks— for example: bathing, dressing, escort to meals, medication setup and dispensing, and routine checks on residents. The role of a registered nurse( RN) may vary from facility to facility. At the least, the RN should be the one who sets up and stores a person’ s medications. The aide may be the person who delivers the medicines to the resident. Even the definition of the term“ delivers” regarding medication may vary.“ Deliver” could mean: to drop off the medication in the person’ s room; to pour it into the hand of the resident, who then takes the medicine; or to administer the medicine to the person. Assisted living facilities may also supply transportation to and from medical appointments, errands, and group outings. Some facilities may offer rehabilitation therapies, hospice care, and specialized care for different disorders( such as dementia). If the facility offers rehab or hospice, the same regulations for physician referral, evaluation, and insurance or Medicare coverage apply as when someone is living in their own home. In addition, residents are free to choose their own rehabilitation provider, even if the facility houses its own or another company on-site.
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Supportive Living
Supportive living refers to state-funded facilities— in some but not all states— for seniors who need assistance with daily living, as in assisted living( above). Individuals need to check with their own state’ s Area Agency on Aging or a social worker familiar with community resources.
Skilled Nursing Facilities( SNFs) or Nursing Homes
Skilled nursing facilities are institutions that are licensed and regulated by state and federal governments to provide room and board, daily personal care, supervision, medical care and oversight, and 24-hour-a-day care from registered nurses( RNs) and certified nursing assistants( CNAs). Physicians( MDs) serve as medical directors of skilled nursing facilities. Many, if not most, nursing homes are certified for Medicare and / or Medicaid coverage for a certain number of beds( residents) per facility. Medicare certification allows for short-term rehabilitation stays only. Medicare and supplemental insurance policies usually cover 100 days of nursing home care that results from a hospitalization and meets the criteria for rehabilitation therapies. For those people who are not on Medicaid or the short-term allowance of Medicare, skilled care is a private expense and / or may be covered by a long-term care insurance policy.