If you are looking for senior housing, finding the right place to live often becomes very stressful. Whether the reason for moving is prompted by a serious medical condition or the desire for a lifestyle change because it’s getting more challenging to live independently, it’s important to assess the current situation and look at all the options.
By learning more about the options in senior housing, you can make the right choice with an environment that is healthy, happy and more fulfilling. Here are some of the available options. We encourage you to conduct your own research to make the best possible decision. This can include visiting various senior residential communities in your area.
Assisted Living
A state regulated and monitored residential long-term care option. Assisted Living provides or coordinates oversight and services to meet the residents' individualized scheduled needs, based on the residents' assessments and service plans and their unscheduled needs as they arise.
Assisted Living facilities are generally large buildings serving dozens, or even hundreds, of residents, with integrated services as opposed to the so-called "Board and Care" homes. (Board and Care homes are generally licensed for six or fewer residents.) They are generally considered "non-medical," but residents may receive services from a visiting nurse, and they may receive hospice services while living in the Assisted Living.
Residential Board & Care
These small (usually for six or fewer residents) care facilities, are state licensed as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, just as the Assisted Living Facilities are licensed. They are ubiquitous throughout Southern California residential communities. There are nearly one-thousand in Orange County alone. Board and Care homes are operated in ordinary private houses, but must meet special fire code regulations in order to accommodate ambulatory and non-ambulatory residents.
Dementia Care
According to state regulations, dementia means the loss of intellectual function (such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, exercising judgment and making decisions) and other cognitive functions, sufficient to interfere with an individual's ability to perform activities of daily living or to carry out social or occupational activities. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain conditions or diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease. Symptoms may include changes in personality, mood, and/or behavior.
Dementia is irreversible when caused by disease or injury, but may be reversible when caused by depression, drugs, alcohol, or hormone/vitamin imbalances. Facilities which choose to admit and/or retain residents with dementia must meet certain extra regulatory requirements that go beyond those regulations for facilities for non-demented senior adults. One of the major differences relates to the safety requirements for caring for demented residents. Most assisted living facilities that serve the demented elderly will have a secure environment featuring delayed egress devices to help assure resident safety.
Nursing/ Rehabilitation Facilities
These are types of care facilities that offer the so-called "medical model," as opposed to the social model in assisted living and board and care homes. Nursing and Rehabilitation facilities are licensed by the California Department of Public Health, Licensing and Certification Division. Assisted Living and Board and Care homes are licensed by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division.
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facilities are typically for patients who require the clinical supervision of a licensed nurse. Generally, they have conditions that require more medical oversight than in the social model facilities licensed by the Department of Social Services.
Home Health Care
This is a type of agency, licensed by the California Department of Public Health, which refers licensed medical professionals to attend to the needs of clients in need of such services. Various disciplines represented include physical therapists, occupational therapists, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, etc.
Hospice Care
An entity which provides hospice services to terminally ill persons, is Medicare certified for hospice, and holds either a Hospice license or a Home Health agency license from the California Department of Public Health.
Medical Equipment & Supplies
Durable medical equipment consists of major items to assist the prospective client to help maintain or improve their quality of life. Items might include hospital beds, wheel chairs, walkers, Hoyer lifts, etc. "Soft" goods, or supplies, may include disposable items such a incontinent products that are discarded after use. Durable medical equipment companies ("DMEs") may assist clients in securing necessary items.