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Different assisted living facilities offer multiple care levels. A majority have both assisted living services and skilled nursing care facilities. So, how do you determine the right level of care for your loved one?
Seniors always need an assessment before admission into an assisted living facility. A staff member thoroughly evaluates the senior’s cognitive and physical health. The results help determine the level of care the senior needs for the most engaged and active life possible.
Moving your older relative into assisted living can be overwhelming and confusing. You might have concerns about admission requirements for the facility and what to expect. Read this guide for details on what assisted living assessment is, what is assessed, and admission requirements for assisted living.
Understanding Assisted Living Assessments
Doctors’ notes are helpful and provide details about a senior’s medical needs, but assisted living facilities cannot rely solely on this information when admitting a senior. Instead, a nurse or other admission staff conducts an evaluation to collect current and accurate information about the senior’s care needs.
The assessment score dictates the level of care the senior needs, how the facility can assist the elder, and the associated fees. The evaluation is also critical in developing the senior’s care plan and determining suitable mobility aids like this Drive Medical Mobility Scooter from Amazon. It is portable, and has comfortable seating, adjustable armrests, and a rechargeable battery.
Sometimes, the assessor meets the senior at the hospital where the older adult receives treatment or is present during a physiotherapy session. The assessor also completes a questionnaire by asking the family about the needs of the senior such as chronic
conditions and other high-level requirements.
Often, families underestimate the kind of care their loved ones needs because they are so used to assist the senior. Therefore, the assessment incorporates physical tests that require the senior to get up and take some steps. The exercise reveals the senior’s agility, steadiness, and proper use of walking aids.
Assisted Living Assessment Areas
Regardless of the level of assistance, periodic senior assessment ensures your loved one gets all the necessary care and support to remain independent. Assisted living facilities usually want family members or caregivers present in the evaluation to fill in information gaps and give insight into the senior’s level of functioning.
Assessments are relatively standard across different assisted living facilities. They are designed to evaluate the senior’s physical and cognitive health. A typical evaluation involves examining and ranking the following areas:
Medical Needs
The medical needs assessment includes obtaining information on current health issues, medical history, hearing and vision problems, and other chronic medical conditions that need care. Does your older adult suffer from or have they ever been treated for the following conditions? How much do they affect the senior’s independence?
The evaluation helps the facility provide the best services possible. During the assessment of the medical needs, the assessor also notes details on medical administration. This critical information relates to whether the person remembers to take their medication and how much monitoring they need.
Dietary and Nutritional Needs
Dietary needs shift considerably over time. The cognitive and physical limitations that develop with age interfere with a senior’s ability to maintain healthy eating habits. Therefore, due to medical conditions and advanced age, older people need a special diet to keep them healthy.
To create an appropriate diet plan, you must consider:
- Does the senior have dietary restrictions?
- Does your loved one have dietary preferences, intolerances, or allergies?
- Is your loved one on a low-fat, low-sugar, or low-salt diet?
- Is your older adult on a feeding schedule?
- Does your senior need speech or swallowing therapy?
Cognitive Ability
The older adult’s mental state is evaluated to help the facility’s caregivers to design a care plan that provides the most support for independence. The assisted living facility staff will provide care tailored to the senior’s mental capabilities.
During the evaluation, the assessor will seek answers to questions like:
- Is the senior aware of places, people, and time?
- Does the person occasionally get confused or experience challenges recalling details?
- Does the elder sometimes need prompting, or are they confused or disoriented to the extent that they regularly need prompting?
Hygiene and Personal Care
Some seniors need help with hygiene and personal care activities such as bathing, shaving, hair care, and dental hygiene. The information will be documented as part of the overall care plan.
Hygiene and personal care also include the senior’s ability to use the bathroom and the level of assistance they might need. The facility will record information on the following:
- Is the senior able to feed, bathe, and dress themselves?
- Does the elder have bladder or bowel incontinence? Can they handle it themselves using assistive and protective devices?
- Does the senior need reminders to use the bathroom?
- Do they need help to go and use the bathroom?
- Do they need assistance from more than one person?
- Do they need a reminder to wear protective garments?
Special Support Services
Often, seniors require special support services to meet their needs. The information required includes:
- Do they need a wheelchair at a particular time of the day?
- Do they need help with oxygen masks?
- Do they have specific sleep habits?
- Do they have any needs that require extra assistance from staff?
Level of Mobility
Mobility refers to the ability of your loved one to move around. During the assessment, you will need to answer the following questions:
- Is the senior independently mobile?
- How steady is the person on their feet?
- Does the person need assistive devices like a walker, wheelchair, cane, or mobility scooter?
- Does your senior require help to get in or out of a chair or bed?
- Can your loved one move in a wheelchair alone, or do they require help pushing it?
- Does your loved one need help from two or more people to get around?
- Has the person fallen within the past three months? Was it more than once?
Admission Qualifications for Assisted Living
Eligibility for admission to assisted living is usually based on the person’s individual needs. The assessment score determines whether assisted living is the best option for the senior’s needs. Assisted living is typically appropriate for seniors who need:
- Rehabilitation services
- Minimal skilled nursing care
- Medication management
- Daily assistance with routine tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
However, assisted living is considered unsuitable for seniors who need:
- Extensive medical care
- Continuous supervision
- Memory care
In another article, I go more in-depth into seniors’ abilities in assisted living. I recommend reading it if you’re interested in learning more. 4 Abilities Seniors Need to Live in Assisted Living
Take Away
An assessment is crucial before any senior gets into assisted living. It helps the family and caregivers determine the care and support the elder needs. It also helps to track fluctuations in their physical health and cognitive ability.
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