What is Assisted Living?
"Assisted
Living " Means a coordinated array of supportive
personal and health services available 24 hours per day, to
residents who have been assessed to need these services, including
residents who require formal long-term care.
Assisted living promotes resident self direction and participation
in decisions that emphasize:
Independence |
Individuality |
Privacy |
Dignity |
Homelike Surroundings |
Here are two definitions
that are often recognized in the Assisted Living industry.
1) The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) defines
Assisted Living as:
A special combination of
housing, supportive services, personal assistance, and health
care designed to respond to the individual needs of those
who need help with activities of daily living. Supportive
services are available, 24 hours a day, to meet scheduled
and unscheduled needs, in a way that promotes maximum dignity
and independence for each resident and involves the resident's
family, neighbors, and friends.
2) Victor Regnier, author of Assisted Living for the Aged
and Frail, defined
Assisted Living as:
Assisted
Living housing represents a model of residential long-term
care. It is a housing alternative based on the concept of
outfitting a residential environment with professionally delivered
personal-care services in a way that avoids institutionalization
and keeps older, frail individuals independent for as long
as possible.
What is an Assisted Living Home?
Nine Essential Characteristics
of an Assisted Living Home
|
| 1. |
Appear residential in character. |
Assisted Living facilities have the look and feel of
a home. Designs are based on residential models, not hospital
models. |
| 2. |
Be perceived as small in scale and size. |
The actual size of Assisted Living homes varies widely;
however, the feel is of a small rather than large institutional
setting. |
| 3. |
Provide residential privacy and completeness. |
Living units provide privacy, including a full bathroom
and sometimes a cooking area, in keeping with the residential
character. |
| 4. |
Recognize the uniqueness of each resident. |
Each resident is regarded and treated as a unique individual
with respect to programming and services. |
| 5. |
Foster independence, interdependence, and individuality. |
Residents' existing functional abilities are maximized,
and dependency is minimized. Residents are provided with
only the help they need. |
| 6. |
Focus on health maintenance, physical movement, and
mental stimulation. |
Homes focus on maintaining health, encouraging appropriate
exercise and stretching, and providing residents with
mental stimulation in the form of activities, involvement,
and activities in the home. |
| 7. |
Support family involvement |
Families are involved with resident care, sharing responsibility
with the assisted living home. |
| 8. |
Maintain connections with the surrounding community. |
Assisted Living homes strive to maintain connection
with the surrounding community, rather than isolating
residents from it. |
| 9. |
Serve the frail. |
Assisted Living serves the aged and frail, especially
those in danger of institutionalization. These residents
may need help only with certain activities of daily living. |
Is Assisted living
here to stay?
Yes! Two factors support
Assisted living's secure position in the long-term-care industry:
| 1. |
The over-85 population will dramatically increase over
the next several decades. |
| 2. |
The over-85 population will need more and
more assistance. |
Assisted Living will evolve over the
next few decades-the needs of frail seniors make that a certainty.
New providers will continue to enter the marketplace and current
providers will find new ways to attract residents.
|
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