Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Friday, November 06, 2009 NC asks

Q: Assisted Living for AD Patients

I just came across to some facilities called Assisted Living for AD patients. On the phone, One of the facility's personnel told me the facility also offers skilled care for late stage AD patient. They take all stages and also have palliative care.

It sounds better than nursing home. But I wonder if the skilled care is as good. Does anyone have the experience? Is this really different from a regular nursing home or assisted living? For AD patients, they help to bathe or caregive the patients.

 

Nina

Answer This
Answers (3)
11/10/09 2:07pm

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Arial Narrow"; panose-1:2 11 5 6 2 2 2 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial Narrow"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle15 {mso-style-type:personal; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black; font-weight:normal; font-style:normal; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none; text-decoration:none; text-line-through:none;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --><!--[if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><! /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} --> <!--[endif]-->

The best way to find out if this is a good option for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is to do some thorough research first. Assisted living facilities are centers designed to provide care for individuals while allowing them to retain as much independence as possible. People with Alzheimer’s disease can require a range of assistance, usually dependant upon the stage of the illness they are in.  There are certain areas of care that need to be considered to determine if assisted living is an appropriate placement.  Basic categories include hygiene, eating, dressing, transferring, toileting, and continence. If the individual in question requires help in these areas, it’s necessary to first determine how much assistance is needed (minimal supervision to total care, for example). After making this assessment, it is a good idea to contact the nursing department in the assisted living facility to find out if their nurses or aides can provide this level of care. Ascertain whether or not more help can be provided as the individual's care needs increase – and whether it is customary for the person to stay on the unit with the same direct care staff or move to a different area with a change of personnel. Lastly, also remember to ask whether there are additional charges per service.

 

Reply
11/ 8/09 1:56pm

It is my pleasure to know that there is such place near our city. 2 hours drive. We will check out the other similar ones nearby but we finally have a place to go for my FIL.

 

It is hard to do - for each AL for AD, we have to ask if they accept sicker AD patient and etc. This one does and it is in honor roll in US News.

 

Nina

Reply
11/10/09 2:08pm

The best way to find out if this is a good option for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is to do some thorough research first. Assisted living facilities are centers designed to provide care for individuals while allowing them to retain as much independence as possible. People with Alzheimer’s disease can require a range of assistance, usually dependant upon the stage of the illness they are in.  There are certain areas of care that need to be considered to determine if assisted living is an appropriate placement.  Basic categories include hygiene, eating, dressing, transferring, toileting, and continence. If the individual in question requires help in these areas, it’s necessary to first determine how much assistance is needed (minimal supervision to total care, for example). After making this assessment, it is a good idea to contact the nursing department in the assisted living facility to find out if their nurses or aides can provide this level of care. Ascertain whether or not more help can be provided as the individual's care needs increase – and whether it is customary for the person to stay on the unit with the same direct care staff or move to a different area with a change of personnel. Lastly, also remember to ask whether there are additional charges per service.

 

Reply
Answer This

Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

Btn_ask_question_med
View all questions (1455) >