Levels of Care in Assisted Living
Watching a loved one's health deteriorate is never easy. Realizing that their independence is in jeopardy of being lost can be a traumatic experience that triggers depression and other mental conditions in addition to the physical ailments that may be plaguing them. Maintaining their independence for as long as possible is imperative. If assisted living care is needed, it will be provided based on how much they are still able to do for themselves. Here is an overview of the levels of assisted care, what each level includes and how it is delivered.
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Home Health
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Home health services are medical and personal care services that are provided in a client's home. These services may include assistance with daily living chores, such as bathing and feeding, but can also include medical care such as wound care and physical and/or speech therapy. These services must be ordered by a doctor and are performed by certified home health aides, registered nurses or other licensed medical providers.
Assisted Living Facility: Type I
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This type of facility houses multiple residents who are mobile and require minimal care--either personal or medical. These facilities provide meal preparation and personal living quarters as well as laundry services. They are usually referred to as "retirement homes," where the residents are active and overall healthy but want on-site monitoring and health services in the event of emergencies. Medications are provided in these kinds of facilities, should the residents require them.
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Assisted Living Facility: Type II
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These types of facilities are commonly referred to as "nursing homes" and are designed for residents who have advanced health problems and may have limited mobility or be bedridden. Personal care services such as bathing, feeding, laundry and cleaning are provided by on-site staff as well as any medical services related to their care, such as wound care, feeding tubes or oxygen machine maintenance.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
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These types of facilities provide round-the-clock nursing services that include eight hours of coverage by a registered nurse. The residents of these facilities are usually totally dependent and require 24-hour medical supervision. Assistance with personal care activities such as bathing, feeding and dressing is all-inclusive and the services of these facilities may include on-site rehabilitation for certain conditions.
Hospice
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Hospice is referred to as "end of life care." The goal of hospice care is not to treat or cure the health conditions but to make the client comfortable in the time he has left. Pain management, food tolerance, breathing techniques and coping mechanisms are some of the ways hospice care is delivered. Aside from a team of doctors and nurses overseeing the medical side of this type of care, hospice services often include hospital support staff such as clergy, social workers, patient advocates and counselors. The family of the hospice client is involved in this type of care, which may be provided in the client's home, a hospital or a designated hospice facility.
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