Most assisted living facilities will put together a service plan (also called a care plan) for a new resident. This is a very important agreement that details the specific type of care the resident is to receive (and will pay for) while living at the assisted living community. Since care is the number one priority for most residents, it is very important to detail the specific health care and daily activity assistance that is included in the assisted living service plan.

 

Make Sure to Understand the Specific Care & Costs Included

Understanding the specific services offered and the costs associated with each service will help you make a more informed decision. The term service plan might not be used; some assisted living places may refer to it as a care plan. Some assisted living homes might not have a formal process of preparing such an agreement, however, it is in the resident’s best interest to define the specific types of care that will be offered and the individual and total costs for such care.

 

Involve the Family Along with the Resident

It is important for both the resident and family to be involved in the service plan creation process as much as possible. During the search for assisted living housing, prepare a list of all daily living activities and health care assistance that the resident requires help with. This list of items can help form the specific care plan for every facility. Make sure the resident and the family agree on what services are needed and the service plan specifies that those needs are met. Make sure the assisted living facility implements your input into the creation of the service plan so there are no surprises of services performed or costs associated.

 

How often is there a Needs Assessment?

As a patient is in the facility for a period of time, the staff will evaluate whether the existing care plan is working, or if it needs to be altered to better accommodate the resident.  Typically, as the resident grows older, more care needs may arise. Find out how often the assisted living facility conducts a care plan evaluation. Ideally the facility may evaluate a resident’s care plan every few months or as the staff feels specific needs arise. During this needs assessment, new services may be added, existing services altered or removed, each of which may alter the cost.

 

How will the Facility Handle the Changing Health Care Needs of a Resident?

While living in an assisted living community, some patients might develop illnesses or advanced diseases like heart disease or diabetes. During the care plan creation try to learn how the facility handles such changes in health of residents. If a resident’s health deteriorates and they require more intense care, will the staff be able to handle the resident’s new health needs. How does the facility assess such changes in health to determine the proper care changes needed? What is the process if the facility determines the resident needs care that the facility is not equipped to offer? These are questions that should be asked during the service plan creation. Most facilities will have a list of services that can be performed and procedures for handling with residents who health requires care outside the facilities capabilities.

 

How often does staff check on residents?

Residents need privacy, but they also need assistance. During the service plan creation period, it is a good time to determine how often staff checks in on it’s residents throughout the day and night. Obviously the more care a person needs, the more they should be checked on. The assisted living facility should have standard procedures in place for monitoring its residents. Learn what those are.

Service planning is a critical issue with assisted living. It gives the resident and their family a good idea of how care will be handled within the facility as well as the costs associated with such care.