Choosing the right level of care is crucial for your loved one’s comfort and safety. Do they need help with grooming and mobility? Do they require special assistance with incontinence or medication management? Assisted living is regulated to provide care that meets your senior’s needs. Understanding the different levels of care will help you determine if this type of community is right for your family.
Level 1
Level One residents need very little help with their daily tasks. They might need a wake-up visit or simple daily reminders, but they can bathe and dress themselves. Seniors in this level of care may also need assistance moving around. For example, they might need help getting to and from meals or navigating their community halls. They could use a wheelchair or cane for mobility purposes. They may also need help managing incontinence or urinary accidents.
This level of care requires a higher number of caregivers regularly than lower levels of care, so these residents typically pay more monthly. Before moving into an assisted living community, you’ll want to know this cost structure.
Level 2
Lower levels of care are typically for seniors who need minimal assistance. They can usually move around independently, using a cane or wheelchair. They may need help fastening their buttons or showering, but they don’t have any memory loss and can speak enough to communicate their needs to caregivers. The size of the building and its layout can also play a role in whether or not higher levels of care are available. A smaller facility may be unable to accommodate as many high-level residents because of the limited space needed. Another factor is the capacity of staff. Seniors with high-level care often require specialized training to provide their unique requirements. This can increase the cost of assisted living services, so it’s important to understand these additional costs upfront.
Level 3
Residents at this level can walk independently or with a cane or wheelchair but need assistance with daily activities, such as fastening buttons or remembering medications. They also need help with grooming tasks such as bathing, brushing teeth and shaving. They may experience occasional incontinence but use protective underwear or wipes to manage their care. At this level, staff can help with daily reminders and encouragement to take their medication. Individuals may have difficulty cutting or opening food and require assistance with feeding. Staff can provide a range of other hands-on help with ADLs. Often, this level of care is offered in a private apartment. The exact arrangement varies from community to community.
Level 4
Residents at this level need the most help with their daily activities. They may use a wheelchair or require assistance transferring on and off the toilet. They might need help putting on clothes or showering and need incontinence products. Typically, nurses manage their medications, take blood sugar levels, or perform other health-related tests. Winter Park, FL, assisted living communities reassess each resident’s level of care at regular intervals. This is accomplished using a physical examination requiring seniors to stand up from their chairs and walk a few steps. This reveals their steadiness and agility, factors that determine the level of care they receive. Before committing to an assisted living community, schedule unannounced visits to compare facilities. Enlist the help of other family members to tour multiple locations and talk with staff and current residents.
Level 5
If a senior requires level five care, they’ll have significant hands-on assistance with ADLs. They may also have early signs of dementia and need cueing to complete tasks like bathing, grooming, dressing, or mobility. At Heritage Hill, they might need a wake-up call and simple reminders throughout the day. To determine what level of care a senior needs, assisted living communities usually fully assess the individual’s health and cognitive status. Depending on the state, this is done through a state-approved assessment called a FL-2 or 704 form. Knowing about levels of care can help families understand what to expect from a facility and will provide a framework for the questions you can ask during your tour. It can also help you budget for care, as many facilities offer an a la carte pricing structure for services, with residents paying for only the care they need.
Comments are closed.