Assisted Living

1
Assisted Living Encouraging Autonomy,
Independence and Remaining in Place

• Long Term Community Care Coalition
• The Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and
  Disabled

2
The Who, Why and What of Today

• Introduction to the workshop
• Who was selected to participate
• Why these topics are timely appropriate
• What information will be covered

3
Long Term Care Community Coalition / The
Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled

• Who are we?
• LTCCC Long Term Care Community Coalition
• CIAD The Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and
  Disabled

4
What is Assisted Living?

• Generally, assisted living residences provide a
  combination of housing and supportive services
  for seniors who dont need to be in a nursing
  home (for round-the-clock nursing and medical
  care) but do require more personal care and
  health services than independent living provides.

5
Consumers are excited about Assisted Living

• Assisted Living has the promise of
• Choice and control
• Independence
• Continuing to participate in the outside
  community
• Services that minimize the need to move

6
Why Providers might find it hard to meet the
promise

• Some residence rules may limit ability to make
  decisions and make choices
• Making things easier for staff may limit freedom
• Staff shortages
• Family might not like residents making decisions
• Staff may not know how to encourage autonomy or
  independence

7
Why Providers might find it hard to meet the
promise

• Physical layout may inhibit independence and
  autonomy
• Regulations may not seem to permit resident
  choice such as taking risks or residents
  remaining if they grow more dependent
• Fear the resident will be hurt if they make
  certain choices

8
Why Providers might find it hard to meet the
promise

• Fear the resident may not understand the
  consequences of their actions
• Fear of a lawsuit
• Other more independent residents may not like
  dependent residents remaining
• Staff may not know how to care for frailer
  residents

9
Consumer Issues

• Residents/consumers may be afraid of getting hurt
  or feel they cannot be independent
• Residents/consumers may feel overwhelmed when
  faced with selecting an assisted living
  residence, or negotiating the world of assisted
  living feel that or family know better

10
Benefits to Fulfilling the Promise of Assisted
Living

• Autonomy
• Decision Making Power

• Risk taking
• Independence
• Aging-In

11
The promise is not being kept

• Three-year study
• Methodologies
• Results

12
Thinking of Moving to an Assisted Living
Residence?Fostering Autonomy Independence

• LTCCC
• CIAD
• Presented by
• Cynthia Rudder, Richard Mollet and Geoff
  Lieberman

13
A guidebook for finding choice independence

• Written for the consumer to educate them, NOT to
  sell them on any one type or idea of assisted
  living.
• It focuses on independence on the elder!
• More of a workbook for those considering assisted
  living residences.
• Who should use this book?

14
Empowering Seniors/Disabled

• Book is written directly to the senior/disabled
• Knowledge is power. The contract, admission
  agreement, and government regulations and laws
  establish rights.

15
A guidebook for finding choice independence

• Explore Options
• Planning Ahead

16
Your Needs, Wants and Questions

• Do You Need Help ..?
• Is It Important for You To ..?
• Questions to Ask?
• What to Look For?
• Aging-In

17
What Do You Need .?

• Do you Need Help .
• ADLs
• IADLs
• Getting places
• Staying Involved in the outside Community?

18
What Do You Want?

• What is important to you as you get help?
• Maintaining routines?
• Hobbies and other activities?
• Going place outside the residence?
• Staying involved with your community?
• Being involved in your medical treatment?
• Being able to remain in the residence you are
  living in even if you need more help?

19
Questions to Ask

• Ask staff
• Ask residents
• Ask family and friends of residents

20
What to Look For On a Visit

• Entrance
• Individual Units
• Hallways
• Neighborhood
• Staff Interaction with residents and others

• Lighting, Layout, and Physical Conditions
• Outside Areas
• Pets
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Common Areas

21
Discussion

• This book is written for the senior/disabled. How
  do you think families will/should be involved?

22

• How Would You Use This Book?

23
Residents Guide for Assisted LivingMaintain
Your Independence, Choice, Control

• Book 2

24
How Is This Book Different?

• For those already living within an assisted
  living facility
• Focuses on residents ability to
• Maintain Control
• Decision-Making Power
• Autonomy
• Age-in

25
Goals and Aims

• Encourage a positive dialogue between
  Consumers Providers
• Encourage residents to evaluate current residence
• Enact change

26
Evaluating Current Residences

• Independence
• Choice
• Decision-Making / Risk-Taking
• Aging-in / Staying-in

27
My residence needs changes

• What can a resident do by her/himself?
• What can a resident do with others?

28
Enacting Change By Self

• Make informed decisions
• Tell People What Matters to You
• Take part in your resident service plan
• Just do it!

• Speak with Staff
• Know your rights
• State your grievances effectively
• Use an Advocate!

29
Enacting Change - with others

• Residence Councils
• Becoming Active on an Existing Council
• Starting your on Residence Council

30
Encourage Positive Dialogue

• Providers
• Residents

31
How this Guidebook Empowers Residents

• Gives them a process for evaluation and making
  change
• Dont have a Resident Council? Consider Forming
  One
• Your Resident Service Plan
• Its Not Just About Healthcare
• Do your part!

32
Exercise

• Risk-Taking
• Think about an elderly or disabled person who is
  heavily dependent.
• Make a list of the things that this individual
  might want to do that you think is risky.
• Add to this list things that this person might
  want to do that would not be allowed in an
  assisted living residence.

33
Exercise

• Look at this list. Put a check next to those
  things you consider unacceptable risks. Put a
  cross next to those things you consider
  acceptable risks.
• Discussion discuss reasons
• Why might an individual want to do those things
  you consider an unacceptable risk?
• What are the possible benefits to the individual
  of doing these things?

34

• How do you think you would use this booklet?

35
Additional Resources

• www.assisted-living411.org
• www.aarp.org
• www.aoa.gov
• www.aahsa.org
• www.alfa.org
• www.ccal.org
• www.eldercare.gov
• www.caregiver.org
• www.ncal.org
• www.ltcombudsman.org