Every senior assisted living in Chapel Hill, NC will have requirements prospective members must meet before they can join, and some are stringent. This is designed to safeguard existing residents while ensuring new members feel at home.
Daily Living Activities
In most U.S. States, to qualify for assisted living an individual must need support with a minimum of two daily living activities, which are grooming, cooking, bathing, ambulation or continence care. For example, an eighty year old woman who resides alone might be independent in most respects, though she is sometimes forgetful and might have difficulties moving around at times, leading her loved ones to fear she may fall and injure herself. She would be an ideal candidate for assisted living.
Stability and Predictability
While assisted living candidates must require help with certain daily activities, they must not be in a situation where they need monitoring twenty four hours a day. For example, an elder with diabetes who is able to inspect their own blood sugar levels while remembering to utilize their insulin shows they can manage the condition and are independent enough to be eligible for assisted living. But someone who is not predictable and who cannot remember to take their insulin and manage the condition on their own and needs continuous supervision might not be eligible.
Scenarios Where Candidates May be Denied
While retirement communities seek to help as many as possible, there are unfortunately scenarios where candidates may be denied. Examples of this include:
Individuals that require significant medical needs
Many people over the age of sixty five require a certain degree of medical assistance. However, if they require substantial wound care, or are recovering from an accident or illness and need help that the community cannot provide, they might be referred to skilled nursing until they’ve recovered. Additionally, assisted living is not suitable for those who require feeding tubes, gastrostomy care, tracheostomies or who have a staph infection.
Individuals that are bedridden
Anyone considering joining an assisted living community should be able to move on their own. The reason is because while some communities have the personnel and equipment needed to move residents about, this may not always be the case. Those that are bedridden and unable to move by themselves should choose skilled nursing instead.
Admission Requirements
There are a number of admission requirements that must also be met. Before becoming a member prospective resident or their loved ones will need to fill out admissions applications, give consent to provide medical info, and demonstrate that they understand the community policies as well as the monthly fees that must be paid.
While physician orders aren’t always needed for admission, they are welcome because it confirms that a doctor has given approval for care. You’ll also need to fill out care or patient consent forms and every prospective resident is subject to a criminal background check. An admission coordinator might also gather insurance details to determine if it can cover a portion of the costs. There may be state forms that must also be filled out.
