What Are the Medical Requirements for Assisted Living?

When is the right time for you or your loved one to enter assisted living? This can be a difficult decision to make. But if you’re unsure, you should know that there can be general requirements that determine whether an individual is even eligible, and that’s where you should start. Read on below to find out more about the requirements for assisted living.

Needs Daily Assistance With Certain Tasks

While the exact parameters can vary, requirements for assisted living usually include needing some level of assistance with daily tasks. This could be if an individual has trouble with personal care, such as bathing, grooming, using the facilities, or dressing, or they may need assistance with day-to-day activities such as household chores and preparing their meals.

Medication management is a big one. When seniors live on their own, they may forget to take medications or take them at the wrong times. In some cases, they require help to get the medicine they need. This is a major benefit of assisted living.

Mobility

Another sign an individual may be ready for assisted living is if they have difficulty getting around their home. Assisted living is designed for seniors with mobility issues to be able to move around more easily and safely. Assisted living centers are built to cater to residents who use canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. On the other hand, if an individual is bedridden, assisted living may not be the right solution.

Behavior and Health Is Still Fairly Stable

Assisted living residents are usually able to maintain at least some level of independence. While assisted living provides great resources for many medical issues, residents typically don’t need 24/7 monitoring.

In some cases, the state of one’s health may require something more advanced. If an individual shows severe cognitive impairment, unpredictable behavior, tendency to wander, or intensive medical needs that require around-the-clock care, assisted living is not right for them. In that case, memory care, a center with skilled nursing care, or even a hospital may be the better option.

Requirements for Entering Assisted Living

If you or a loved one is interested in entering assisted living, you will need to provide certain information and documents. Individuals will need to fill out an admissions form and usually sign a resident agreement. Your medical provider will also need to send over your medical history.

Another requirement for entering assisted living is to undergo a medical assessment. This often includes a chest exam, to rule out tuberculosis. This assessment will be used to help create the resident’s care plan.

Once an individual enters assisted living, they may continue to undergo regular assessments. This is a way to monitor how their medical needs and the level of care required can change. Members of the health care team will often keep family members posted on the current status of their loved one’s health.

If you or a loved one do meet the requirements for assisted living, consider joining us at the Mission at Agua Fria senior living. You can find more information on our website. If you have additional questions about our assisted living requirements, don’t hesitate to contact us. And you can schedule an appointment to meet with us on our website as well.