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What is Assisted
Living?
Assisted
Living refers to a special combination of personalized
supportive services, and health-related care designed to respond to the
individual needs of those who require help with activities of daily
living.
Assisted Living is a non-institutional setting that promotes maximum
independence and dignity for each resident and encourages family and
community involvement. Staff is available 24 hours a day to meet
scheduled and unscheduled needs.
What types of
services are offered in Assisted Living residences?
Services
provided in Assisted Living residences usually include:
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Assistance with activities of daily living (eating, bathing,
dressing, toileting, and mobility)
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Housekeeping services
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Transportation
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Meals
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Access to health and medical services
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24-hour security and staff availability
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Emergency call systems for each resident s unit
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Health promotion and exercise programs
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Medication management
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Personal laundry services
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Social and recreational activities
Who lives in
Assisted Living residences?
Currently, more than a million Americans live in an estimated 20,000
Assisted Living residences. There are more than 7,700 Assisted Living
residences caring for more than 165,000 residents in California.
Residents typically need assistance with activities of daily living
(dressing, bathing, grooming, etc.). Residents may suffer from
Alzheimer's disease or other memory disorders.
How is Assisted
Living regulated?
Assisted
Living communities in California are licensed Residential Care
Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and are regulated by the Department
of Social Services.
Regular inspections
by state officials, staff training and certification requirements,
family and community involvement, and ongoing quality assurance efforts
work together to help ensure quality care. Ongoing education and
training programs provided by CALA and other education organizations,
strive to reinforce standards and promote state-of-the-art programs and
care delivery models.
What does
Assisted Living Look Like?
Responsiveness to consumer demand has resulted in a variety of
options now available to consumers – options relating to services,
special programs, activities, community size, and amenities. Because
consumers’ preferences and needs vary widely, there is no single
blueprint. Assisted Living communities can range from a converted
Victorian home, to a high-rise complex, to a multi-acre campus. Assisted
Living is an attractive option for consumers primarily because of the
range of choices available, individualized service approach, security,
and home-like environment.
What about costs?
Costs
vary with the residence, room size, and the types of services needed by
the residents. Generally, assisted living costs less than home health
services and nursing home care. A basic Assisted Living fee may cover
all services or there may be additional charges for special services.
Who pays the bill
for an Assisted Living residence?
Residents or their families generally pay the cost of care from their
own financial resources. Depending on the nature of an individual's
long-term care insurance policy, costs may be reimbursed. Government
payments for Assisted Living residences have been limited. While most
states provide at least a limited assisted living benefit through their
Medicaid program, California as of today, does not. CALA has been
encouraging California to take the necessary steps to fund assisted
living through the Medi-Cal program or through an increased SSI/SSP
payment.
What is CALA?
CALA is an
organization dedicated to the betterment of assisted living by
providing:
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Leadership to assisted
living providers and other stakeholders in the assisted
living field;
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advocacy to protect the
interests of providers and the consumer-focused service they
provide; and;
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education to support the
provision of high quality programs and services.
CALA represents more than 450
Assisted Living providers. CALA members range from small
independently operated communities, to those that specialize in
caring for residents with dementia, to large campuses with
multiple levels of care
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