If you or a loved one are considering an assisted living facility, you may be researching different facilities. In doing your research, one critical question to ask is, what are the three principles of assisted living? The three principles are person-centered care, practicing ethics, and having a clear mission statement. At Lakewood Reed Street Assisted Living Center, we embody these three principles and live them out daily in our services to our residents.
Person-Centered Care
Person-centered care is incredibly important because each individual person will have different needs, preferences, and abilities. They deserve a tailored approach to their medical care that addresses their specific needs. No living facility should employ a blanket, one-size-fits-all approach to their care.
For example, one resident may really benefit from a daily jog, but that same activity could harm another resident. You can’t ask each resident to do all the same activities. This can apply to exercises, diets, games, social interactions, and any other activities. With person-centered care, your loved one will have their unique needs met. This can help to continue a feeling of individualism instead of just another patient.
Maintaining Ethics
Maintaining ethics means each resident is treated with the same level of respect and dignity as the other residents. When families bring their loved ones to a facility, they need to feel comforted in knowing their loved ones will be taken care of. Unfortunately, there are many instances where a facility does not live up to this standard of care. However, when it becomes a part of the core mission, you can trust that your loved one will be treated with dignity and respect.
Integrity is a key element that assisted living facilities must have. It shows that each resident will receive the same standard of care regardless of their ability or individual needs. Facilities must be transparent with all relevant matters related to the moral and ethical treatment of their residents. Accountability is a vital part of maintaining ethics, and a nursing home should have practices and procedures in place to ensure accountability is consistent.
Mission statement
Each assisted living facility should have a good mission statement that is clear and visible to everyone. This helps communicate the values and goals of the facility. It can comfort the residents and their loved ones who either dropped them off or came to visit them. It also helps the facility staff remember and reflect on the goals of the community.
Staff training should be ongoing so that they remain current on the mission and their actions appropriately reflect that.
A good mission statement should be conducive to the development and care of the residents, the environment, and the community. Operations and care should work in unison to meet the mission daily.
FAQs
Q: What Are the Three Characteristics That Refer to an Assisted Living Facility?
A: Three characteristics that refer to an assisted living facility are independence, autonomy, and personal dignity. In an assisted living facility, it’s important that residents are given the healthy independence they deserve. The goal is to provide residents with the ability to make their own choices. This can vary from resident to resident, however, maintaining a healthy level of independence and autonomy allows residents to maintain their personal dignity in a positive way.
Q: What Is the Core Philosophy of Assisted Living Based On?
A: The core philosophy of assisted living is based on person-centered care. This means the services and personal care are tailored toward each individual resident based on their specific preferences and needs. This approach allows for each resident to feel cared for and appreciated. This also ensures each resident feels respected because their unique needs are accommodated, even if those needs and preferences change. Assisted living is meant to support and maintain individual well-being.
Q: What Is the Highest Level of Care in Assisted Living?
A: The highest level of assisted living is level three. This is additional, ongoing support. This level is typically reserved for those who struggle to complete their daily living activities. They often require attention from more than one caregiver. The caregiver must assist them in completing simple tasks, including taking medications, getting dressed, or preparing meals. Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions are often subject to this level of care.
Q: What Is One of the Biggest Drawbacks of Assisted Living?
A: One of the biggest drawbacks of assisted living is the cost. Assisted living can be expensive depending on the location and quality of services available. For those with chronic health conditions, it can be especially expensive because they need higher levels of care. It is not covered by Medicare, leaving much of the cost to be paid for out of pocket. However, the comfort of knowing your loved one’s needs are met can far outweigh the costs.
Q: Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Assisted Living?
A: In most instances, Medicare or private insurance will not cover the cost of an assisted living facility. However, there may be some long-term care insurance plans that can cover some costs. Any care that’s provided by a doctor, nurse, or professional health care provider may be covered by Medicare, but the costs of the living facility itself will not be covered. There are alternative options available you should explore, and Medicaid may be able to cover some costs.
Quality Living Facilities Ready for You
A living facility that understands the importance of these three key principles is one that puts its residents’ preferences and needs first. These principles are essential to the long-term care and health of individuals. A good facility will employ a person-centered approach, always practice ethical behavior, and have a clear and obvious mission statement guiding the everyday operations of the staff.
At Rocky Mountain Assisted Living, our team embodies the three principles of assisted living and exemplifies them every day. Our mission is to cultivate an enriching environment for seniors to feel at home and for caregivers to feel connected to their purpose. We strive to make this mission our reality in everything we do, and we are ready to welcome you to our community. Contact us to learn more about the important services we offer.