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Assisted Living Questions


FAQ

Assisted living includes a wide variety of settings and services.
In some facilities, services are limited to meal preparation, housekeeping, medication reminders and minimal assistance. In others, more intensive services, including help with medication, on-site nurses, and regular assistance with daily activities such as bathing and dressing, are available for frail or confused older adults. Choosing an assisted living facility for yourself, a relative, a friend, or a client can be challenging and confusing and takes significant time and effort.

Most frequently asked questions:

  • Are there different types of assisted living communities? There are two different types of assisted living communities. There are assisted living type I communities and type II communities. Assisted living communities that are licensed for type II can care for residents that require either type I or II; however, a community that is only licensed as type I cannot care for someone who requires a type II facility.

 

  • What are the differences between a Type I and Type II assisted living community? The difference between type I and type II is this: Residents in type I can receive assistance with up to two Activities of Daily Living. Type I communities can care for individuals who are capable of achieving mobility sufficient to exit the facility without the assistance of another person. Residents in a type II assisted living community can receive assistance with all of their Activities of Daily Living.  Type II communities can care for individuals who are sufficiently mobile to exit the facility with the limited assistance of one person. If you have any questions on whether or not your loved one needs type I or type II, please contact us.

 

  • What services do most assisted living facilities provide? Assistance with Activities of Daily Living such as bathing, dressing, personal grooming (including oral hygiene and denture care), toileting (and toileting hygiene), eating, and mobility (transferring and ambulating). Certified Nursing Assistants are on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medication Assistance (some call it medication management) where a staff member will distribute medications to your loved one and will document this in the medical record. Medications will be ordered regularly by the facility when needed from the pharmacy. Beauty Salon is on-site and where our residents can get their hair done every Monday. Meals will be provided (all 3 meals), plus snacks. Transportation will be provided to doctor appointments or scheduled with transport providers and family (fee applicable). Each Bel Aire Senior Living community features programming and activities designed specifically for the seniors. The calendar is carefully planned to ensure each resident has an opportunity to participate in a variety of meaningful activities that enrich the mind, body and spirit.Typically the Sunday Religious Services would have two more meetings (Sunday School and Relief Society/Priesthood Meetings) after the sacrament meeting. Since that might be just too long for our residents, we split the meetings into several blocks. The schedule is as follows: SUNDAY - 9:30 Gospel Music, 10:00 LDS Church Services; WEDNESDAY - 1:00 Priesthood Meeting; THURSDAY - 10:30 Relief Society Meeting.  We also provide a Family Home Evening each Monday evening. This is not a religious service, but each Family Home Evening includes a game or fun activity, treats, and a short lesson.
  • When will the assisted living community say they can no longer care for my loved one? When your loved one requires services that must only be provided by a licensed nurse (Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse) and that time is going to last more than 15 days, at that point your loved one may require a hospital or skilled nursing facility (also known as a rehab facility, nursing home, or convalescent home). Also, if our facility is unable to meet the needs of your loved one or if he/she poses a threat to the safety or well being of self or others, at that point you may need to move to a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
  • What costs are associated with assisted living? Most facilities like Bel Aire will have a room and board rate that is the basic cost of the resident’s stay. This will usually include three meals a day, weekly housekeeping with bed linens and towels being washed, access to emergency assistance, maintenance, access to facility amenities, transportation (by appointment for doctor visits or scenic rides), activities, and access to laundry facilities. Utilities are included in the room and board also. Phone services are usually not included and cable television is optional in the rooms. Medication management is included in base fee.
  • Can my loved one continue to receive therapy (physical, occupational, speech) from a home health agency while at an assisted living community? Yes. Home health agencies can visit residents living in an assisted living community if they qualify for home health. For specific questions regarding home health or if you are looking for a good referral of a home health agency.
  • What supplemental financing is available for assisted living? VA, New Choices Waiver, and some long-term care insurances (these are usually too expensive if you wait until your loved one requires assisted living before purchasing this type of insurance plan). If you’re loved one or the spouse of your loved one served in the military, chances are, he or she will be eligible for a benefit from the VA. The veteran in assisted living could potentially receive up to $1800/month for assisted living services and the surviving spouse could potentially receive up to $900/month for assisted living services. This benefit is called Aid and Attendance. Please call us for further details about this benefit. If your loved ones can qualify, it will be worth it. New Choices Waiver is the medicaid program for assisted living communities. You must first become eligible for Medicaid and be on Medicaid. Then, the resident must reside in a skilled nursing facility (nursing home/rehab facility) for a 90-day period for an observation period where staff members will assess your loved ones needs to verify they are in need of assistance and that assisted living would be appropriate. Once approved for the New Choices Waiver program, you will need to find an assisted living facility that has a room available for this program. New Choices Waiver will cover the cost of all care and then the facility and the resident and/or family of the resident will negotiate the room and board rate. This can vary anywhere from $400 up to $1200/month.
  • What are the benefits of having my loved one stay in an assisted living community as opposed to having a home health agency or private care taker come to his/her home each day? Home health agencies will usually only send an aid out for about one hour each day; whereas, in an assisted living community, there will be aides on staff at all times. If a private care taker charges even $10 an hour and you want someone there 24 hours a day, it could end up costing over $7,000 each month; significantly more than monthly fees for an assisted living community.
  • What are the terms of the contract? In most cases you have to sign a month-to-month contract. Some facilities offer what is called respite stay. This is where you will usually pay a higher daily rate and be able to have your loved one stay for a few days or a few weeks instead of doing a month-to-month contract.
  • Who will determine if my loved one fits the criteria for assisted living? Our Care Director Sherry Parker Hornbuckle will do an assessment to ensure that regulatory speaking, your loved one meets the criteria for assisted living.
  • What are the regulations the state has for assisted living communities? For Utah State regulations Click here.