Nursing Homes and Assisted Livings for Elderly Research Paper

Nursing Homes and assist Livings for Elderly - Research Paper ExampleLong-term c atomic number 18 facilities are group-housing environments that provide serve for those who privation some capacity for self- carefulness. There are many different LTC facility fibers (e.g., assisted quick, residential care, vainglorious foster care, breast feeding homes), established and operated according to federal, state, and local regulations and licensing requirements (Dobbs, 2004). The dominant feature of all LTC facility types is arguably the level of care provided. The facility license stipulates the level of care allowed and the training and experience requirements for staff. Unfortunately, care levels are not classified according to the same system for each type of facility making it problematical to directly compare facility types. For example, nursing homes are licensed to provide skilled and/or medium care, terms established in federal regulations (Dobbs, 2004). Skilled care is a lev el of care that requires services that can only be performed safely by a licensed nurse whereas intermediate care is health-related care and services that do not necessarily require licensed practitioners. In contrast, assisted living, residential care, and adult foster care are licensed under state regulations based on the activities of day by day living requirements (ADLs) of individuals. The ADLs measure individuals physical, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. A common ADL measure is whether the individual is independent, dependent, or needs economic aid with bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating. Arguably, the most important factor to influence both the older individuals relocation to a LTC facility and the type of LTC facility chosen is the level of care needed, that is, the individuals physical and functional limitations and degree of cognitive impairment. Other factors implicate financial status, availability of supportive family and friend s, and regional case management practices. The four facility types are set forth below. Assisted Living Facilities Assisted living facilities (ALFs) are one of the newest living arrangements for elders, designed around a social rather than a medical model of care. In many ways, the function of assisted living is fairly clear it is a congregate housing alternative for seniors who are unable to live independently, but who do not require the intensive skilled nursing services available in nursing homes. As the