What Is Assisted Living?

CONSUMER INFORMATION

Assisted Living in Nebraska

Assisted living is a coordinated array of personal care, health maintenance activities, and other supportive services available 24 hours per day. It promotes resident self-direction and participation in decisions that emphasize independence, individuality, privacy, and dignity in residential surroundings.

Assisted Living is part of a continuum of long term care. It is an option for those individuals who do not need the intensive medical and nursing services provided in a nursing facility but something more than independent living.

The Assisted Living Philosophy

The philosophy of assisted living embraces the resident's right of choice and the need to maintain independence. Service plans are developed for each individual according to the needs and desires of each resident. The philosophy of assisted living is based on the following principles:

At all times, consumers are treated with dignity and respect.
Each resident has the right to privacy about his or her own affairs and personal needs.
A personalized service plan is developed for each consumer based on the needs and desires of the resident.
Each consumer has the right to manage his or her own personal funds and to retain and use his or her own personal possessions.
Social activities, religious practice, and interaction with others and the community continue to remain an integral part of each individual's life to the extent possible and desired by each resident.
Physical, mental, social, and spiritual challenges are all necessary for optimal health and well-being.
The assisted living residence is safe, supportive, and comfortable.
The assisted living facility is a valuable asset to the community.

Assisted Living Services

Regulations for assisted living in Nebraska have been written to allow service providers to offer a wide range of services while providing at least a basic level of assurance of quality of service choices. While this helps to support consumer choice, it can also make the selection of an assisted living provider confusing and overwhelming.

This approach also suggests that the provider as well as the consumer (and family when appropriate) share in the responsibility of resident safety and well-being. The resident (or family) must know about his or her own rights, service needs, service options, and resources. The resident (or family) must be willing and able to manage his or her own daily activities, decisions, and resources. The resident must also ask for changes in services provided if the need for service changes.

The facility shares in the responsibility for the resident's safety and well-being. It must be certain the services promised in the service agreement are provided and the rights of each resident are respected. The facility must also share in the responsibility to determine when changes in services need to be made. The provider retains the right to cancel the service agreement if the facility can no longer meet the service needs of the resident. At this time, the facility would help the resident (or family) locate a more appropriate setting.

The most common services offered by an assisted living provider include:

Twenty-four hour access to services and emergency response
Three meals a day in a group setting
Personal care assistance including bathing, dressing, and ambulation
Supervision or provision of medications
Protective oversight of persons with cognitive disabilities
Coordination of social activities and recreation
Provision or supervision of health maintenance activities
Provision or coordination of transportation
Complete or partial laundry service
Building maintenance
Housekeeping services

Resident Service Agreement

The assisted living provider in Nebraska must clearly inform each consumer of the variety of services available either directly or by contract, the cost of each service, and the expected arrangements for payment. It is important for the resident to choose a facility that is able to meet his or her service needs. The service agreement is a legal contract between the resident (or family) and the provider. It identifies the responsibilities of the provider, the services that will be provided, the responsibilities of the resident, and the cost and payment arrangements for the services.

The Resident Service Agreement is reviewed on a regular basis. If changes in services needed by the resident are identified, the agreement is updated to reflect the alterations in the service plan. The resident and/or family must be involved each time the agreement is changed. The service agreement should also clearly identify the criterion for discharge from the facility.

Assisted Living Staff

Each facility must have enough trained, competent staff to meet the service needs of each resident. The type of staff employed depends on the services provided. Typical assisted living staff may include:

Personal care attendants
Medication Aide
Administrator
Social Director
Maintenance personnel
Food service workers
Licensed nurses

Health Maintenance Activities

Some assisted living facilities provide other services that help maintain health and optimum wellness. These services may include foot care, medication provision, coordination of services from outside the facility, blood pressure monitoring, or minor first aide. Assisted living facilities do not provide complex nursing interventions.

During periods of brief illness or temporary incapacity, most facilities will allow the resident to stay in the facility. The facility will decide if the resident's needs can be met or if contract staff from outside the facility must be hired by the resident for this time.

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