Health knowledge made personal
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If you don't do it for a living, it can be difficult to know what questions to ask when you are looking for a suitable assisted living community or residential care home for your loved one.  The following will help you ask the right questions and gather the evidence you need to make a well informed decision. Try and keep this age old English idiom in mind, "don't judge a book by its cover". Also see these previous articles. Types of Dementia Care Communities, the Semantics of Confusion and Before Looking at Communities for a Person with Dementia Consider This PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS: • Encourages resident independence and functioning • Ensures dignity and individual expression • Ensures resident safety • Provides peace of mind • Reduces confusion and agitation • Minimizes the use of chemical restraints (medications to control behavior) • Promotes family involvement INDIVIDUAL PLAN OF CARE: • Comprehensive assessment addresses the resident's current and changing needs • Personalizes a plan of care for each resident • Planning process involves resident, family, and physician( if needed) • Regular reassessment of needs STAFF: • Full-time program director for memory care in assisted livings • Staff (including care aides) well educated in Alzheimer’s disease process and care techniques • Ongoing specialized staff training and education • High staff-to-resident ratios on all three shifts (preferred: under 8:1 under the day shift in assisted livings and under 4:1 in residential care homes) • Seems attentive to the residents while you are visiting ( not ignoring them) • Consulting medical director, and other specialties as needed for the residents. • Interdisciplinary team approach • A licensed nurse on the premises a minimum of at least 8 hours a day for assisted livings and on call for residential care homes. STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING: • Individually tailored activities scheduled seven days a week (minimum 6 per day except Sunday for assisted living and minimum 4 per day for residential care homes) • Activities focus on resident's strengths/preferences of things to do • Active and passive program from life skills to exercise, music, art, current events, and social activities • Short, flexible and success-oriented activities • Large group, small group and one-on-one activities ENVIRONMENT • Self-contained, secure, cheerful yet calm atmosphere • Enclosed courtyard/backyard • Dedicated dining, activity and private areas • Uncomplicated floor plan and visual cues to help residents stay oriented • Easily accessible bathrooms in common activity area • Simplified, soothing and homelike atmosphere • Meets all city, State and county health codes, and has certificate showing it is valid this year. • Is clean and smells good ( does not smell of urine anywhere in the building. • Is licensed by the state as either an assisted living or as a residential care home, and the license is current for this year. RESIDENTS • Engaged in activities • Appear comfortable • Well-groomed • Settled, well adjusted • Generally accepting of the staff FAMILY SERVICES • Family support group meetings for assisted livings • Ongoing education, support and counseling • Family conferences and involvement in care planning • Opportunities for families to socialize DINING AND NUTRITION • Individually tailored food and nutrition plans created to individual's needs and capabilities • Modified menus (diabetic, low salt,etc…) • Between-meal snacks and drinks • Innovative food presentation techniques that ease and encourage eating • Special adaptive utensils available if needed • Family welcome to eat with resident (may be an extra charge for family member)
More Insight and Advice for Caregivers Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room |
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