Benjamin Franklin believed it best – “nothing in life is certain except death and taxes” but with daily development in science, technology and health care, Americans are living longer than ever before*. This blessing on the other hand, has created a sole dilemma for modern American families: How to plan for and prepare for one’s retirement years.
Have you engaged a road-trip lately? Almost each highway is graced with large bill-boards given that the locations of new intended communities where couples can use their retirement years committed to recreational pursuits. I distrust you will find a local paper that doesn’t have at least one ad promoting the facilities found at a local assisted living facility. Try to search for “nursing homes in Virginia” on the Internet and thousands of web pages will appear. Each and every day new facilities offering different programs are being built and marketed across the state.
Is such a facility right for you and your family? If so, which facility? We often hear the terms “retirement community,” “nursing home,” and “assisted living facility” but rarely consider what these conditions actually mean. The differences though, are striking and it is very important to recognize these differences when building choices for yourself or your treasured ones.
NURSING HOMES
In Virginia, a nursing home means any service with the primary meaning of providing long-term nursing care, nursing services and health-related services on a progressing basis, for the action and inpatient care of two or more non-related persons. Put simply, a nursing home is a service designed for someone who needs less care than a hospital, but requires daily health care support.
The Virginia Department of Health licenses such facilities and has recognized guidelines regulating various aspects of their operations, programs, and employment needs, etc. For example, a nursing home must: (a) have written policies and procedures regarding the action of residents and the management of resident care which are obtainable to residents and their families; (b) provide emergency medical services within 15 minutes, under normal conditions; (c) be subject to unexpected on-site inspections of the nursing facility by State employees, (d) have a written accord with one or more physicians licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine to serve as medical director; and (e) each occupant shall be under the care of a doctor licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine.
Nursing homes are the most keeping up and structured residential options for our Seniors requiring some level of daily health care. If the facility provides care through Medicare and Medicaid programs, it is deemed a “Certified nursing facility” and must be in compliance with both federal and state laws.
Of course, the more rules and regulations that define and control the daily operations of a nursing home, the greater the responsibility of the staff. These are the people who will be charged with the daily task of kind for your loved one, and making sure they are in compliance with state and federal laws. No matter how nice and or good-looking the facility might be, the staff will make the dissimilarity flanked by your loved one being cared for and encouraged, or not.
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
“Assisted living facility” means an adult care residence which has been licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services to provide a level of service for adults who may have physical or mental impairments and require at least moderate assistance with the activities of daily living. Within assisted living, there are two types: regular assisted living for those seniors (typically) who need assistance with one or more daily activity; and intensive assisted living for someone who may be incapable of performing activities due to mental and/or severe physical impairment
The Virginia Department of Social Services licenses assisted living facilities but does not regulate in the way the Department of Health regulates nursing homes. While there are Virginia guidelines regulating aspects of assisted living facilities, they are limited: An assisted living facility must: (a) provide or coordinate personal and health care services; and (b) provide 24-hour supervision.
As reflected in the table below, assisted living facilities have no obligation to provide health care and/or have health care staff obtainable to assist your loved one. In addition, with no obligation to provide such services, there is the question as to whether or not they owe a duty to warn or treat residents with illnesses or diseases that could be transmitted from other residents.
While a nursing home will have many nurses on staff and doctors hired to monitor the residents, assisted living is more analogous to an apartment building or college dorm where laundry and food services are provided and residents are on their own for the rest of the day.
CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
In Virginia you may also see advertisements for a retirement community. They are popping up all around our favorite College Towns and Tourist destinations.
A Continuing Care Retirement Community provide care depending on your present needs. Like an insurance policy, the resident pays an entrance fee and periodic adjustable payments, which in turn gives the resident a box up of residential and healthcare services that the CCRC is obligated to provide at the time these housing and health care services are required. For example, if upon entering, all you want is help with your meals that is the only service which will be provided. If you need intensive bodily therapy or God forbid, daily support for a Dementia patient, the CCRC has assisted living services or nursing home services obtainable under your contract. Continuing care contract are regulated by the Virginia Bureau of Insurance of the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Many CCRCs can have nursing home services available either on-site, or at licensed facilities off-site. While you may be entering the Retirement Community as a very healthy independent and competent resident, as your needs change, so will your contract with the Community and in turn, the facility’s obligations to you.
See: How to start a nursing home
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