subject: Assisted Living Services In Connecticut [print this page] Assisted Living Services for the elderly and disabled are part of the broad spectrum of services offered under the umbrella of senior health care. While neither an independent living facility nor a nursing home, these facilities fall into the gray area between the two by allowing patients to maintain their independence in an environment that provides 24-hour assistance for daily living activities. As the aging baby boomer generation enters their retirement years, many will require assistance with daily living activities. Many of those needs can be met by the services offered through elderly communities, which vary by type and number of services offered.
Connecticut has at least 91 communities in operation throughout all areas of the state and each is classified by the type and level of assistance provided. Although it seems as though the selection process can be lengthy and tedious, there are several placement services that can help you choose the right facility for your loved one. Companies like Always Best Care Senior Services is a great choice in terms of the assistance they offer in selecting the proper facility. Always Best Care offers a free placement service that can help alleviate the stress that comes facility selection. Remember, it is important to determine the needs of the resident before admission to any facility, as there are numerous types of these communities, many of which offer different levels of care and assistance to their residents.
Facility Types
The first type is Age-Restricted Facilities, also known as retirement communities. These are for older adults in reasonably good health standing who are able to live independently. Residents live in various housing facilities, which vary from apartments to single-family homes and condominiums. Some communities may offer recreational or leisure activities while others may provide more basic accommodations, so it is important to discern the potential residents desire for socialization before selecting an age-restricted community. This type of facility would be right for you or your loved one if you want to live in a community with neighbors of the same age (generally aged 60 and up).
The home-share program would be right for you if you are a single adult who is having trouble maintaining their home due to financial, social or physical needs. Once in the program you will be matched with other single adults in similar situations and who do not want to live alone or who need decent and affordable housing.
The third type is called Continuing Care Retirement Communities, also known as life-care communities. Care in these facilities is provided for life, and residents move from one level of care to another as their medical and assistance needs change. Residents receive numerous services in such communities, which include nursing/general health care, meals, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, emergency help, personal assistance, and recreational and educational activities. Although these facilities can be pricey, they are right for you if you do not currently need medical or personal assistance but would like to have such care available to you in the future, and if you do not want to move again even when changes in health occur.
Elderly and Disabled Housing provides housing needs for older adults (60+) as well as for persons with disabilities (18+). The main goal in these facilities is to foster as much independence as possible. The staff provides services to residents in an effort to help them become or remain independent, which means that they will identify residents who need services, assess needs, advocate for service delivery, link residents to service providers, and monitor delivery of those services. Some of these facilities provide meals and housekeeping, although most do not offer assistance with daily living activities. In general, the staff are there to help residents access the services they need but will not provide those services directly, as the main goal in these communities is to maintain as much self-reliance as possible. The staff acts as coordinators that help residents access community-based services to meet their living needs. Rent is paid monthly and is based on a percentage of the residents adjusted gross income, but government subsidies are available to help with the payments.
Congregate Housing offers its residents private housing that include a kitchen and bath, supplemented by services to promote independence (similar to services provided by Elderly and Disabled housing) as well as common dining areas. Some may include areas for socialization or other recreational activities, as well as one meal per day (although this may vary from facility to facility), housekeeping, and transportation. Most facilities of this nature will provide access to community-based services to meet other personal care needs. This type of facility is best suited for self-sufficient older adults who do not require nursing assistance and who desire private living within a communal setting of similarly aged adults.
Residential Care Homes, also known as homes for the aged, provide a communal living environment where residents either live in a private or semi-private room with either a shared or private bathroom and bathing area. These homes provide a wide range services to their residents, including three meals a day, housekeeping/laundry services, recreational activities, 24-hour supervision, supervision of self-administered medications, and personal care assistance. Depending upon the facility, there is a resident nurse available, while others may just provide residents access to community-based services. These homes are right for you if you enjoy social settings, you do not require skilled nursing, and you want assistance with daily living activities (three meals a day, laundry, housekeeping, etc). Rent is paid monthly and varies by community and type of room that is chosen. Some homes allow government subsidies to assist with payments.
General Assisted Living Facilities are a combination of independent living and nursing homes. These facilities provide assistance with daily living activities, but are not as in-depth as one would receive in a nursing home. One of the main goals that these facilities strive to maintain is to limit the loss of independence that often comes with admittance to an institution. They provide residents with an active and watchful community that lends assistance when needed. Services can vary, but generally include non-medical assistance/personal care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, help with self-administered medication, assistance for persons with Alzheimers or other dementias and disabilities, recreational and wellness programs (including spiritual activities), as well as housekeeping, laundry services, and transportation. These facilities are supportive and very helpful for those who need a lot of help with daily activities, but not for those who require daily skilled nursing assistance.
There is no common blueprint for services offered by all assisted living facilities; each type is subject to variation in size, levels of care, and services provided. An in-depth selection process is necessary to match the needs of the resident with an appropriate facility. For example, if you or your loved one need Alzheimers or dementia assistance, it is absolutely necessary to locate a facility that caters to your exact needs. Other needs, such as the desire for socialization or spiritual activities are just as important as the residents medical needs; life in these communities should preserve as much of the residents daily routine as possible. This will help assuage the adjustment process as well as comfortably ease the resident into a new environment. Placement in an inappropriate facility can result in receiving less-than-proper medical or health care and may potentially cause harm the residents emotional well-being.
Therefore, before admission to any facility, make sure you have addressed the nature of the care and service needed: how much assistance do you need with your daily activities of living? Do you require a lot of assistance with an illness or disability? Depending on your degree of need, you must choose a facility that can easily provide services that cater to those needs. Plan a visit to gauge how well you or your loved one responds to the atmosphere of the facility and to make sure they offer the adequate services or activities you require. It is also important to consider your financial resources before choosing a facility: does your selection accept government grants or subsidies? This is an important consideration when selecting an appropriate assisted living home, so make sure you dont forget this step!
Connecticut has a lot to offer in the way of assisted living facility choices. Although the selection process can be lengthy and tedious at times, there are numerous resources that can help you decide which facility is right for you.
