In the past, seniors had limited options for continuing care beyond nursing homes. As a result, “nursing home” became synonymous with “senior living.” While today’s seniors can choose from a variety of senior care options, sorting through the various types of facilities can be overwhelming. The confusion about senior living terminology has unfortunately resulted in some family members placing their seniors in nursing homes only to pay for care they don’t truly need. In other cases, seniors placed in retirement homes may experience inadequate care that fails to meet their needs or endangers their health and safety.
If you think your loved one would benefit from living in a structured community with professional caregivers, selecting the right level of care is crucial. While your senior may have extensive medical needs that require them to live in a nursing home, many seniors find that assisted living facilities are more appropriate for them. The first step you can take to make your decision easier is to research the qualifications for assisted living facilities and determine whether your senior is eligible for care.
What Are the Qualifications for Assisted Living Admission?
Each assisted living facility is different, but in general, this type of senior living is ideal for seniors who need minimal to moderate help. Help can consist of minimal skilled nursing services, rehabilitative care, medication management, and verbal cues or physical assistance with non-medical activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities include eating, bathing, ambulation, preparing meals, housekeeping, and using the restroom.
One of the most significant benefits of assisted living is that facilities offer a spectrum of continuing care. The spectrum ranges from seniors who can mostly live independently to those who cannot manage their own affairs and require monitoring or encouragement to maintain a healthy, consistent routine. Assisted living allows seniors to age in place rather than being moved to different facilities as they require more intensive care.
How Do I Know If My Loved One Qualifies for Assisted Living?
Meeting with the admissions coordinator of a prospective facility is the best way to assess the levels of care and services they offer. You can schedule a tour to ask questions, view the grounds of the facility, and verify that your senior meets their qualifications for admissions. Before admitting your senior, the coordinator will request specific information about their medical history, such as height, weight, allergies, or medical diagnoses, and may also require them to complete a physical examination. Physician’s orders are not always mandatory for admission, but they are often requested to confirm that their primary healthcare provider approves of the care offered by the facility.
If your senior is eligible for admission, you will be given information about facility policies, costs, and care. Then you and your senior will complete additional paperwork either before or on the day they are admitted. Paperwork will include consent to release medical information, patient consent for care, and other forms required by the state. You will also provide insurance information for your senior so the coordinator can verify that their plan covers assisted living and determine which treatments and procedures are authorized.
Upon admission, staff members will complete several assessments to evaluate your senior’s needs. Primary concerns include how much assistance they need with ADLs or medication management and whether they experience disorientation, memory loss, or sensory impairment. Staff will work with you and your senior’s physician to develop a care plan for their needs. This plan may include the medications, equipment, or supplies they need, the type of assistance or medical services they require to stay healthy, dietary restrictions or food allergies, the activities or hobbies they enjoy, and any other preferences. Staff members will regularly perform assessments during your loved one’s stay to monitor their health and make necessary updates to the care plan.
What Disqualifies Someone from Assisted Living in Centennial, CO?
Applicants may be disqualified from an assisted living facility if their needs cannot be met at the facility. Disqualification can also occur if admitting them would endanger their health and safety or the health and safety of other residents. Your senior may be denied in any of the following situations:
- They require 24/7 supervision or medical care beyond what the facility can provide.
- They suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other severe memory impairments that involve difficulty chewing or swallowing and/or wandering that could result in falls or other accidental injuries.
- They require extensive wound care, gastrostomy care, tracheostomies, feeding tubes, or treatment of serious infections like staph.
- They cannot move independently and are completely bedridden.
It is important to note that although some assisted living facilities may disqualify a resident for memory impairment or the inability to move on their own, other facilities do have the resources and staff to handle residents with these challenges.
How Does Rocky Mountain Assisted Living Compare to Other Facilities?
At Rocky Mountain Assisted Living, our facility is specially designed to accommodate patients with dementia or other disorders affecting memory and cognition. We take an individualized approach to every patient and establish a comprehensive care plan that keeps them safe, meets their needs, and allows them to retain their dignity. Our environment is welcoming so residents feel at home but also secure enough to give you peace of mind.
All staff members in our memory care unit must complete comprehensive training from the Alzheimer’s Association. We also maintain a low staff-to-resident ratio to ensure quality care. Residents can take part in various therapies, learn strategies for coping with their challenges, and practice exercises to improve their memory and mental flexibility. We help seniors stay active and social with multiple daily activities, live entertainment, walks along a secured path, and even day trips to their favorite destinations.
Does Your Senior Qualify for Care at Rocky Mountain Assisted Living?
If you are considering senior care options for your aging loved one, it is important to understand how facilities assess potential residents. This task is key for ensuring you select a facility that will not only accept your senior but provide the level of care they need to thrive. Other facilities may deny admission to seniors with memory impairment or other extensive medical needs. Rocky Mountain Assisted Living is fully equipped to care for your senior as they age, regardless of memory impairment or the services they require to stay happy and healthy. Contact us today to schedule a tour and determine whether your senior is eligible for admission.