Assisted Living defined*
An assisted living residence is a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to meet the needs -- both scheduled and unscheduled — of those who need help with activities of daily living.
These needs usually include meals each day served in a common dining area, housekeeping services, assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking, 24-hour security and staff availability, medication management, personal laundry services, and others.
*source: Assisted Living Federation of America, 1650 King Street, Suite 602, Alexandria, VA 22314-2747
Assisted living facilities tend to be very different from one another. An assisted living unit may be as grand as a small apartment with a tiny kitchen in a large complex or as modest as a shared room with little more than a bed and dresser for each resident. One can find an assisted living facility housing 100 residents and providing on-site nursing care two blocks away from another facility that houses six residents and employs a staff with no healthcare expertise at all.
*source: Assisted Living Consumer Alliance
These needs usually include meals each day served in a common dining area, housekeeping services, assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking, 24-hour security and staff availability, medication management, personal laundry services, and others.
*source: Assisted Living Federation of America, 1650 King Street, Suite 602, Alexandria, VA 22314-2747
Assisted living facilities tend to be very different from one another. An assisted living unit may be as grand as a small apartment with a tiny kitchen in a large complex or as modest as a shared room with little more than a bed and dresser for each resident. One can find an assisted living facility housing 100 residents and providing on-site nursing care two blocks away from another facility that houses six residents and employs a staff with no healthcare expertise at all.
*source: Assisted Living Consumer Alliance
In Iowa, Assisted Living:
- Is called Assisted Living Programs
- Most facilities provide assistance with activities of daily living, personal care services, medication administration, and health related care that is on an intermittent basis.
- With state permission, a facility may provide more than intermittent care
- Medicaid may pay for assisted living services through a Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver.
In Iowa, Residential Health Care is:
Facilities providing accommodation, board, personal assistance and other essential daily living activities. Residents living in a residential care facility are unable to sufficiently or properly care for themselves because of illness, disease, or physical or mental infirmity, but do not require the services of a registered or licensed practical nurse, except for emergencies.Source: Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals' (DIA) Health Facilities Division
Iowa State specific Assisted Living information, links, brochures, articles & publications
Note: You will need the Adobe® Reader® software to open and read some of these publications. Get it from Adobe®
|
web page: DEA Assisted Living source: Iowa Department of Elder Affairs languages: English from the web page: "To help decide if Assisted Living is right for you, read the answers to the following questions... What exactly is Assisted Living anyway? How do I choose an Assisted Living Program (ALP) in Iowa? So, what’s the big deal with the Occupancy Agreement? How does an Arbitration Agreement apply to my Occupancy Agreement? Why should I care about Iowa’s Tenant Landlord Law? What if I decide to terminate the Contract?..." more from Iowa Department of Elder Affairs: web page: Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman - Consumer Page languages: English from the web page: "...Who can use an Ombudsman's Services? * Residents or tenants of a nursing home, residential care facility or assisted living program * Family members or friends of a long-term care resident or tenant * Any individual or citizen's group interested in the welfare of the residents * Individuals and families who are considering long-term care placement * Nursing home administrators or employees with a concern about a resident at their facility..." Iowa Family Caregiver Program source: Answers on Aging - The Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging languages: English from the web page: "The Iowa Family Caregiver Program is made possible with funding from The National Family Caregiver Support Program, created in 2000 through an amendment to the Older Americans Act..." Assisted Living Consumer Guide source: Aging Resources of Central Iowa 9 pages; languages: English from the brochure: "Assisted Living is ONE PROVIDER Supplying Congregate Housing and Delivering Home Care Services at the Direction of the TENANT...." also at Aging Resources of Central Iowa: brochure: INDEPENDENT LIVING AND ASSISTED LIVING HOUSING LIST (Des Moines and Surrounding Communities) 25 pages; languages: English from the brochure: "Aging Resources of Central Iowa has compiled this list as an information guide. Any omissions are unintentional. Exclusion from this list does not imply a lack of approval, nor does inclusion indicate an endorsement. Listings are alphabetical. IL is abbreviated for Independent Living and AL is abbreviated for Assisted Living. Information is updated regularly. However, telephone numbers and facility names do become outdated. If the number is no longer in service or the name has changed,please call Aging Resources of Central Iowa at ...." brochure: Application for HCBS Rent Subsidy 4 pages; languages: English from the brochure: "The rent subsidy program provides a monthly rental assistance payment to eligible adults and children receiving services under a federal Medicaid waiver program called home- and community-based services (HCBS). The program is administered by the Iowa Finance Authority on behalf of the Department of Human Services..." Considering Assisted Living source: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans languages: English from the web page: "There are a variety of housing options available for older Iowans. Deciding on a facility that provides the services needed and desired can be a difficult process..." State Agency Contacts for Assisted Living Licensure & Surveys source: Assisted Living Federation of America languages: English from the web page: "...Adult Services Bureau, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, 321 E. 12th Street, 3rd Floor, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 515281-6325..." |
