1/8/08

What Is Assisted Living?

Having a loved one spend the rest of their life in a nursing facility is not the only option. Here is some information on assisted living:

Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities (ALFs) provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs); coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Assistance may include the administration or supervision of medication, or personal care services provided by a trained staff person. Assisted living as it exists today emerged in the 1990’s as an alternative on the continuum of care for people who cannot live independently in a private residence, but who do not need the 24 hour medical care provided by a nursing home. Assisted living is a philosophy of care and services promoting independence and dignity.

There is no nationally recognized definition of assisted living. Assisted Living facilities are regulated and licensed at the state level. More than two-thirds of the states use the licensure term “assisted living.” Other licensure terms used for this philosophy of care include Residential Care Home, Assisted Care Living Facilities, and Personal Care Homes. Each state licensing agency has its own definition of the term it uses to describe assisted living.

In Arizona, ALTCS will pay for Assisted Living Homes (4 to 10 residents) and Assisted Living Centers (11 or more residents).

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