Although residents may receive periodic nursing
care in the facility as needed, this care is not
provided on a continual basis. For instance, the
staff may administer medications (take it from the
container and give it to the resident) but most
residents are expected to take their medications
with assistance that is limited to reminders and/or
set-up in special dispensers. The staff is really
there to help residents who need some assistance
during the day but not continuously. In fact, many
facilities won't accept a resident who is bedbound
most of the time or cannot move about on their own
without a continual risk of falling.
Special accommodations can be important in
choosing a care giving environment. Some facilities
feature special units designed to care for residents
with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease,
throughout declining stages of disability. Some
facilities have separate sections for residents who
have higher levels of disability. But other
facilities feel that it is best to keep all
residents socializing together this can be an
important factor in choosing the facility best for
your loved one.
For the more independent resident, you may want a
unit with a small kitchen, or one that allows pets.
You are typically expected to bring your own
furniture, and almost all facilities have a dining
room that serves meals three times a day.
Cost: The median monthly room
and board rate for a one-bedroom residence in a
traditional assisted living facility is $3,300, or
$39,600 per year*. The annual cost of an assisted
living residence is primarily driven by the size of
the unit (one bedroom vs. studio or shared) and the
level of assistance that is needed on a daily basis.
Nursing Homes
There are generally two types of care available
in a nursing home: short-term rehabilitative care
and long-term care for chronic conditions. Patients
receiving rehabilitative care, most often due to an
acute illness or surgery, may continue staying at
the facility as a long-term care patient if they do
not recover the ability to live in their previous
environment. Usually the long-term care units are in
a separate area of the facility and the patient will
have to change rooms.
In addition to rehabilitative therapies, most
nursing homes are staffed to provide for daily
medical needs and to accommodate patients who are
bedbound or who require significant assistance with
some or all activities of daily living. If a patient
experiences an acute illness or trauma the nursing
home will contact local emergency services for
treatment or hospitalization.
While medications can be administered at all
levels of assistance, most nursing homes require
that prescriptions and refills be filled by the
nursing home staff, usually from a pharmacy of the
nursing home's choosing. Nursing homes can usually
accommodate patients with mild to severe dementia
but if a resident displays combative behavior, they
may be discharged to another facility with a special
unit for these patients.
Nursing homes, in addition to providing medical
assistance and personal care, will often support
social and community activities. Staff and
recreational assistants are usually available to
help those with physical or mental disabilities
participate.
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