Group Home vs Large facility for Assisted Living

[mlb]

My RN sister found this website that compares nursing homes - ALFs and SNFs included:

http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/In...mitySearch.asp

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

When I spoke to the Ombusman I was told that my issue is that my childhood expectation of how old people should be treated is in conflict with reality of the work and costs involved.

That's cold, but not surprising for a place where profits come first, and everything else, a distant second.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by Windwalker2

How would you define "administer medication"? My mother is in a facility that combines independent and assisted living. When she is on medication, they bring it to her at the right time. It's definitely not a nursing home.

Not an easy question to answer - because laws vary from state to state in terms of what certain kinds of facilities/providers/people can and can't do. Here's a general introduction to the subject:

Taking Medication — Assisted Living Consumer Alliance (ALCA)

Bringing medication to a patient at the right time would generally be considered "assisting with self-administration of medication".

Robyn

[SoCalTwinkie]

Here in California we have lots of these elderly care board and care homes. As an alternative to a nursing home they are fantastic. My mom has dementia, cannot walk, toilet herself, medicate herself but can feed herself. Because there are 2 caregivers for 6 residents, she gets excellent care. Much depends on the caregivers. I would suggest that anyone interested in placing a parent in one of these homes, interview all the caregivers and ask the owner how they screen caregivers. Visit frequently. Ask about activities, ie, dominoes, cards, reading to them, playing ball, taking them outside to the park, etc. These homes are all private pay here in California, but less than larger ALF's. Many will keep your parent usually all the way through hospice care and dying. Most take dementia patients.

[Robyn55]

Is that 2 caregivers 24/7 (IOW - 3 shifts)? Robyn

[SoCalTwinkie]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

Is that 2 caregivers 24/7 (IOW - 3 shifts)? Robyn

2 in the daytime, 1 at night.

[PhxBarb]

Yes, that is what my Mom is in now, after I took her out of the ALF.
Much better care. She has a bed alarm now cause she gets up at night and the caregiver gets up when she does. I really wonder how these caregivers get any sleep. They try to nap a little during the day, when the residents do. I know I couldn't do this job and am thankful they have these homes here in AZ.

[SoCalTwinkie]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

Yes, that is what my Mom is in now, after I took her out of the ALF.
Much better care. She has a bed alarm now cause she gets up at night and the caregiver gets up when she does. I really wonder how these caregivers get any sleep. They try to nap a little during the day, when the residents do. I know I couldn't do this job and am thankful they have these homes here in AZ.

My mom has the same issue and the bed alarm works great. The night time caregiver only works nights, so they sleep off hours. The key is having several caregivers to switch off regularly. I can't imagine working 24/7 in caring for an elderly parent with so many needs, but I applaud those who do.