Hi there . . .

Thanks so much for all the congratulations about me joining Gotham Artists. I'm still a little light headed about it! Three of my programs have now been added to their website so I hope you will check them out at http://gotham-artists.com. BTW - if your company or organization is looking for information and wants the country's leading expert on eldercare issues (10 years in the making!), please suggest they check out Gotham Artists too.

Eldercare expert - yes. Movie star? You be the judge. I have added yet another video on YouTube! It's starting to be fun! This one is about dementia caregiver support. Hope you'll check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oABu51uxA3Q and let me know what you think.

As I continue to respond to your most pressing eldercare concerns, this week's article is about assisted living communities. It is from an interview I did on my radio show with Laurene Hartman, Director of Community Relations at Sunrise Senior Living in East Brunswick, NJ. Because there is so much information, I've divided it into 2 newsletters. This week Laurene answers questions such as what is an assisted living community, what are the entry requirements, and lots more. Please read on.

Until next week . . . and February! . . . have a great week.

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ARTICLE: Questions Answered About Assisted Living Communities

Barbara Friesner: What is an assisted living community and what services does an assisted living community provide?

Laurene Hartman: Assisted living is a worry-free lifestyle with supportive services for the residents and their families as well. Assisted living communities provide meals, activities and levels of care. Services vary greatly and depend on the type of resident each community will accept. A vast amount of services and amenities are provided based solely on the individual needs of each resident. I most assisted living communities, residents can totally independent; they can have their vehicle, they can travel. Families really have to do diligence before considering an environment for their loved one. Some might require one to be completely ambulatory - they might need to be able to transfer from a bed to a chair. At Sunrise communities, residents can live in the community until the end of life because we also offer Hospice care. It is definitely not "one-size-fits-all. It really represents the individuality of each resident.

BF: What are the requirements for admission?

LH: It depends on the community. For some, the requirements for admission are really basic: no age requirement and the financial ability to private pay for two years meaning that residents moving in do have to have the resources for at least a 2-year timeframe.

There again, families need to really be proactive in asking those questions as part of the process of a family visiting a community, but every assisted living has their own criteria for their financial needs. Once in, it is strictly a month-to-month rental and residents are billed monthly, and they can leave at any time with proper notice based on their reasons for departing the community.

BF: What are some ways residents can pay?

LH: Some people have long-term care insurance which assists them with their own personal finances. Families should also check out the Veterans Pension and Disability benefit that is an entitlement to veterans and their spouses. (For information on the VA Special Pension with Aid and Attendance Benefit, go to http://agewiseliving.com/2009-09-24-VeteransPension.htm or the 9/24/09 newsletter below.)

BF: What are some other requirements?

LH: Once the decision is made on the community, there needs to be an assessment which is done through our health care coordinator in speaking to the family and the potential resident about all of the things that we might need to provide for that resident.

BF: Does someone actually go to their home and do an assessment?

LH: We can go to their home, we can go to a sub-acute private discharge, it can be done in our own community; we will do whatever it takes to make it convenient for that family member and the potential resident.

BF: Does the assessment tool assess mental and physical abilities?

LH: Yes, it includes both mental and physical abilities because again, if someone's memory is at a certain point where there might be a wandering risk, or again, recognition of family is no longer there with that particular situation, then of course, we would know again, with that assessment tool, where that resident would best be served; where their quality of life would be best, whether its in the assisted living neighborhood of the community, or the Reminiscence neighborhood of the community. And of course the needs of that particular resident would translate into the levels of care that we provide based on the degree and severity of their needs. Do they need total assistance? Do they need minimal assist? Do they only want assistance with a shower once a week? Things of that nature. Do they have continence issues that we need to address? Do they need to be toileted because they're not ambulatory? So again, that tool tells us every nuisance of that resident to create that individual service plan that's designed specifically for them.

BF: In addition to the assessment, what else do they need to do?

LH: Then the family needs a physician's report completed by their primary, a clean TB test, and to be free of communicable disease, (different states have different requirements so be sure to ask the community), and a resident profile that the family must provide. The resident profile - basically a biography about the resident so that way we can create and generate a service plan based on their spiritual needs, their physical needs, how to approach them . . . all those things based on their particular circumstances.

Watch for next week's newsletter when we will look at accommodations for those with memory impairment, different levels of care, and what happens if a resident's situation changes and they can't stay in the community.

Laurene Hartman, Director of Community Relations at Sunrise Senior Living in East Brunswick, New Jersey Her passion for seniors began as a little girl, when visiting her grandmother in the nursing home she lived in. Little did she know, that her role in advocacy was already unfolding. As a young adult, she volunteered in a local nursing home and felt such fulfillment. "There is no greater joy than to know you are making a positive difference in someone's life at a very challenging and emotional time." www.sunriseseniorliving.com (732-613-1355).