Assisted Living

An Assisted Living Community is one that offers 24/7 oversite and the chance to live independently while receiving assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Assisted Living Communities are technically called Assisted Living Residences or Facilities and are all licensed with the State of Colorado. Assisted Living Communities in the Denver Area can range from 8 residents in a home to a large community of over 100 residents.Communities provide a range of assistance so that your loved one can stay in the same environment as their needs increase. Some residents may need assistance only with meals. Others may also need help with tasks such as showering, dressing, and medication management.

Your loved one may be a candidate for a private apartment or need a smaller residential setting. Some communities offer a more social environment than others. A community may offer assistance with medication which is included in the monthly rate whereas another may charge a separate medication fee. You need to determine the specific needs and budget of your loved one so you can narrow down your choices.

It is helpful for you to do an honest assessment of your loved one’s circumstances in order to determine what exactly his or her needs are. Some factors to consider include:

• Realistic level of care needed, both currently and in the future. If possible, try to find a community that will meet the long-term needs of your loved one so another expensive and unpleasant move in the future is avoided.
• Who the person is now. It is easy for family members to want their loved one in a community/home that meets the needs of who the person was in the past. Not who they are now.
• Actual quality of the environment and care provided by the community. It is important to realize that a high price and fancy decor does not always mean high quality care.
• The actual needs and desires of your loved one. Family members may want one thing for their loved one when, in fact, the person who will be living in the community has different goals.
• Your need to know exactly what the costs will be. You do not want to have any surprises later by discovering that what you thought was an “all inclusive” price is actually a basic fee and everything else is added on.

There are many things to evaluate on community-screening visits. A few things to check for include:

• Cleanliness. You want the place to have a fresh smell. Check on how often housekeeping services are provided and what the laundry procedures are. Be sure furniture has been properly dusted, baseboards cleaned, windows washed, etc.
• Staff friendliness. Observe staff interacting with residents to be sure they are polite and kind.
• Eat a meal there. This is an important aspect for your loved one’s daily life. You want to be sure the food is of high quality.
• Talk with current residents and their family members and ask for honest feedback.
• You may want to call the State Ombudsman for the specific community you are considering and ask for feedback as to what he or she is seeing, and look at the state health department records.

Since 2007, Stacys Helping Hand has been helping people like you find just the right place for their loved one in the Denver Metro Area. We will help you find an Assisted Living Community that will meet your loved ones physical and emotional needs while considering your budget, even if you need a facility that takes Medicaid or will accept a resident for a “Medicaid spend-down.”