Assisted living communities are made to offer elders a secure, caring atmosphere with the optimum balance of freedom and round-the-clock non-medical care. Seniors sometimes require various kinds of care at different times in their lives, which is why numerous assisted living communities provide three to five distinct levels of care.
Assisted living communities are registered and regulated by each state, just like all other forms of residential elder care, thus the quality of care varies across the nation. The most popular approach is a three-level need categorization scheme.
Low Level of Care
The lowest degree of assisted living care, commonly referred to as Level 1, is typically required by residents who only sometimes need assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs). These individuals are often able to take care of their own personal grooming, although they may require assistance bathing, doing laundry, or remembering to take their prescriptions.
Moderate Level of Care
A moderate degree of care may be required for seniors who require assistance with some ADLs, such as dressing, shaving, or transferring to and from the toilet. In jurisdictions with three levels of assisted living care, this is sometimes referred to as Level 2. Care expenses are modified to reflect the additional staffing required by Level 2 residents, who often get more individualized help from carers than those at Level 1 care.
High Level of Care
The greatest degree of care commonly offered in an assisted living facility is level 3 assisted living care, often known as enhanced assisted living. In-depth hands-on support with several ADLs throughout the day, such as using the restroom, bathing, and communicating, is included in this level of care. In addition to having many physical disabilities, residents who require this level of care may also suffer from mild to severe memory loss.
Choosing the Right Level of Assisted Living Care
Prospective residents go through a non-invasive needs assessment done by facility staff prior to moving into an assisted living complex. This evaluation is intended to identify people who could be better served in a different kind of institution, such as a nursing home or memory care community, and to make sure that each new resident receives the amount of care they require.
The ability of your aging loved one to carry out numerous ADLs safely is often rated on a point scale as part of the needs assessment. Family members are welcome to take part in the evaluation process and will be asked by the assessor what kind of care the aging adult would want.
If you are looking for an assisted living community that can meet the needs of your aging loved one regardless of the level of care they need, our senior living community is the right choice for you. Aside from personalized care, hands-on assistance with ADL’s and other medical support, we also offer our residents a wide range of senior living programs designed to improve physical and mental wellness.
