Senior Housing

Assisted living resources

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The following suggestions can help you get started in your search for a safe, comfortable and appropriate assisted living community:

Licensing requirements for assisted living facilities vary by state and can be known by as many as 26 different names including: residential care, board and care, congregate care, and personal care. A complete list of each state’s terminology and state regulations can be found online.

Choosing A Community

A good match between a community and a resident’s needs depends as much on the philosophy and services as it does on the quality of care.

The following suggestions can help you get started in your search for a safe, comfortable and appropriate assisted living community:

  • What are your future needs and how will the community meet those needs?
  • Is the community close to family and friends? Are there any shopping centers or other businesses nearby (within walking distance)?
  • Visit each community more than once, sometimes unannounced.
  • Visit at meal times, sample the food, and observe the quality.
  • Observe interactions among residents and staff and ask questions.
  • Ask about social, recreational, and spiritual activities.
  • Ask about the type and frequency of staff trainings.
  • Review state licensing reports.

These steps should also be considered:

  • Contact your state’s long-term care ombudsman to see if any complaints have recently been filed against the assisted living community you are interested in. In many states, the ombudsman checks on conditions at assisted living units and nursing homes.
  • If the assisted living community is connected to a nursing home, ask for information about it, too. (Information on nursing homes can be found on the Medicare website.

Source

Due to the large number of Adult Foster Homes, not all are listed in this guide.  These links provide a complete list:

By Retirement Connection staff

Search Retirement Connection Listings for Residential Care Facilities

Search Residential Care Facilities for Grants Pass
Search Residential Care Facilities for Klamath Falls
Search Residential Care Facilities for Medford
Search Residential Care Facilities for Roseburg

Understanding Long Term Care

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Awareness Campaign – What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is a variety of services and supports to meet health or personal care needs over an extended period of time. Most long-term care is non-skilled personal care assistance, such as help performing everyday Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which are:

  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Using the toilet
  • Transferring (to or from bed or chair)
  • Caring for incontinence and
  • Eating

The goal of long-term care services is to help you maximize your independence and functioning at a time when you are unable to be fully independent.

Who Needs Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is needed when you have a chronic illness or disability that causes you to need assistance with Activities of Daily Living. Your illness or disability could include a problem with memory loss, confusion, or disorientation. (This is called Cognitive Impairment and can result from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.)

This year, about 9 million Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services. By 2020, that number will increase to 12 million. While most people who need long-term care are age 65 or older, a person can need long-term care services at any age. Forty (40) percent of people currently receiving long-term care are adults 18 to 64 years old.

What Are My Risks of Needing Long-Term Care?

About 60 percent of individuals over age 65 will require at least some type of long-term care services during their lifetime. Over 40 percent will need care in a nursing home for some period of time. Factors that increase your risk of needing long-term care are:

  • Age – The risk generally increases as you get older.
  • Marital Status – Single people are more likely to need care from a paid provider.
  • Gender – Women are at a higher risk than men, primarily because they tend to live longer.
  • Lifestyle – Poor diet and exercise habits can increase your risk.
  • Health and Family History – also impact your risk.

How Much Care Might I Need?

It is difficult to predict how much or what type of care any one person might need. On average, someone age 65 today will need some long-term care services for three years. Service and support needs vary from one person to the next and often change over time. Women need care for longer (on average 3.7 years) than do men (on average 2.2 years). While about one-third of today’s 65-year-olds may never need long-term care services, 20 percent of them will need care for more than five years.

If you need long-term care, you may need one or more of the following:

  • Services at your home from a nurse, home health/home care aide, therapist, or homemaker;
  • Care in the community; and/or
  • Care in any of a variety of long-term facilities.

Generally you pay a provider for these services. But most people receiving paid services in their home or community need to supplement these services with help from family and friends.

How Do Care Needs Change Over Time?

Many people who need long-term care develop the need for care gradually. They may begin needing care only a few times a week or one or two times a day, for example, help with bathing or dressing. Care needs often progress as you age or as your chronic illness or disability become more debilitating, causing you to need care on a more continual basis, for example help using the toilet or ongoing supervision because of a progressive condition such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Some people need long-term care in a facility for a relatively short period of time while they are recovering from a sudden illness or injury, and then may be able to be cared for at home. Others may need long-term care services on an on-going basis, for example someone who is disabled from a severe stroke. Some people may need to move to a nursing home or other type of facility-based setting for more extensive care or supervision if their needs can no longer be met at home.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. www.LongTermCare.gov
Provided by: The Staff at www.RetirementConnection.com
Copyright © 2008 RetirementConnection.com. All rights reserved.

What to Look For in a Continuing Care Retirement Community

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As providers of senior housing in a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community), we are often in the position of helping people choose where they are going to live. It might be helpful for you to review some of the reasons we feel are very important in helping all seniors make this decision.

The Residents – Look for a community where the residents are interested in their lifestyle, health, learning, leisure activities and volunteerism. A community where the residents are striving to be engaged to the fullest extent possible in activities that are satisfying, challenging and fulfilling.

The Staff – Look for staff that recognizes that the community is the home of the residents. Staff should be respectful, courteous, and competent, and willing to go the extra mile to provide the quality of life you expect and deserve.

Service and Trust – Look for a marketing department that provides accurate and honest information. Review the longevity of the organization and review any financial information that is provided. Get to know the people who live there and ask questions. Look for flexibility in services, such as dining and other programs.

The Site – Look for your preferred location. Is it close to those things you enjoy doing? Activities such as shopping, cultural events, medical services, and church are all things that should be within a short distance. Think ahead to a future need to utilize public transportation and recognize its availability.

The Building – Explore spaces and uses for those spaces in the physical plant. Ask yourself if those spaces meet your needs. Are there opportunities to enjoy nature, to engage in gardening, and to enjoy walking paths, quiet spaces, and fitness opportunities? Are there spaces for group activities and social interactions? How is the maintenance? Are the grounds well maintained? Do you like the way it looks? Remember this will be your home and a place where you will invite friends and family.

Focus – Does the community focus on meeting the challenges and expectations of the residents? Is the theme to merely survive or is it to consistently try to recognize the changing environment and how to best address those obligations. Is the community focused on providing quality services and quality health? Does it provide a continuum of health services that will provide for you throughout your remaining years? Does it promote aging in place.

Accreditation – Finally, it is very important that a CCRC be accredited. Accreditation means that the organization and community have met standards concerning governance, resident health care and services, and financial matters. Look for the seal that designates Accreditation and you can be assured the organization has addressed these areas.

Obviously, these are difficult questions, but finding the answers will help make your life enjoyable in your new home.

Source: Marketing Department at Terwilliger Plaza, 503-299-4242

Copyright © 2008 RetirementConnection.com. All rights reserved.