Assisted Living Encouraging Autonomy, Independence and Remaining in Place

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Assisted Living Encouraging Autonomy,
Independence and Remaining in Place

• Long Term Community Care Coalition
• The Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and
  Disabled

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The Who, Why and What of Today

• Introduction to the workshop
• Who was selected to participate
• Why these topics are timely appropriate
• What information will be covered

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Long Term Care Community Coalition / The
Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled

• Who are we?
• LTCCC Long Term Care Community Coalition
• CIAD The Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and
  Disabled

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What is Assisted Living?

• Generally, assisted living residences provide a
  combination of housing and supportive services
  for seniors who dont need to be in a nursing
  home (for round-the-clock nursing and medical
  care) but do require more personal care and
  health services than independent living provides.

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Consumers are excited about Assisted Living

• Assisted Living has the promise of
• Choice and control
• Independence
• Continuing to participate in the outside
  community
• Services that minimize the need to move

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Why Providers might find it hard to meet the
promise

• Some residence rules may limit ability to make
  decisions and make choices
• Making things easier for staff may limit freedom
• Staff shortages
• Family might not like residents making decisions
• Staff may not know how to encourage autonomy or
  independence

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Why Providers might find it hard to meet the
promise

• Physical layout may inhibit independence and
  autonomy
• Regulations may not seem to permit resident
  choice such as taking risks or residents
  remaining if they grow more dependent
• Fear the resident will be hurt if they make
  certain choices

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Why Providers might find it hard to meet the
promise

• Fear the resident may not understand the
  consequences of their actions
• Fear of a lawsuit
• Other more independent residents may not like
  dependent residents remaining
• Staff may not know how to care for frailer
  residents

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Consumer Issues

• Residents/consumers may be afraid of getting hurt
  or feel they cannot be independent
• Residents/consumers may feel overwhelmed when
  faced with selecting an assisted living
  residence, or negotiating the world of assisted
  living feel that or family know better

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Benefits to Fulfilling the Promise of Assisted
Living

• Autonomy
• Decision Making Power

• Risk taking
• Independence
• Aging-In

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The promise is not being kept

• Three-year study
• Methodologies
• Results

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Thinking of Moving to an Assisted Living
Residence?Fostering Autonomy Independence

• LTCCC
• CIAD
• Presented by
• Cynthia Rudder, Richard Mollet and Geoff
  Lieberman

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A guidebook for finding choice independence

• Written for the consumer to educate them, NOT to
  sell them on any one type or idea of assisted
  living.
• It focuses on independence on the elder!
• More of a workbook for those considering assisted
  living residences.
• Who should use this book?

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Empowering Seniors/Disabled

• Book is written directly to the senior/disabled
• Knowledge is power. The contract, admission
  agreement, and government regulations and laws
  establish rights.

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A guidebook for finding choice independence

• Explore Options
• Planning Ahead

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Your Needs, Wants and Questions

• Do You Need Help ..?
• Is It Important for You To ..?
• Questions to Ask?
• What to Look For?
• Aging-In

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What Do You Need .?

• Do you Need Help .
• ADLs
• IADLs
• Getting places
• Staying Involved in the outside Community?

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What Do You Want?

• What is important to you as you get help?
• Maintaining routines?
• Hobbies and other activities?
• Going place outside the residence?
• Staying involved with your community?
• Being involved in your medical treatment?
• Being able to remain in the residence you are
  living in even if you need more help?

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Questions to Ask

• Ask staff
• Ask residents
• Ask family and friends of residents

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What to Look For On a Visit

• Entrance
• Individual Units
• Hallways
• Neighborhood
• Staff Interaction with residents and others

• Lighting, Layout, and Physical Conditions
• Outside Areas
• Pets
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Common Areas

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Discussion

• This book is written for the senior/disabled. How
  do you think families will/should be involved?

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• How Would You Use This Book?

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Residents Guide for Assisted LivingMaintain
Your Independence, Choice, Control

• Book 2

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How Is This Book Different?

• For those already living within an assisted
  living facility
• Focuses on residents ability to
• Maintain Control
• Decision-Making Power
• Autonomy
• Age-in

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Goals and Aims

• Encourage a positive dialogue between
  Consumers Providers
• Encourage residents to evaluate current residence
• Enact change

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Evaluating Current Residences

• Independence
• Choice
• Decision-Making / Risk-Taking
• Aging-in / Staying-in

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My residence needs changes

• What can a resident do by her/himself?
• What can a resident do with others?

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Enacting Change By Self

• Make informed decisions
• Tell People What Matters to You
• Take part in your resident service plan
• Just do it!

• Speak with Staff
• Know your rights
• State your grievances effectively
• Use an Advocate!

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Enacting Change - with others

• Residence Councils
• Becoming Active on an Existing Council
• Starting your on Residence Council

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Encourage Positive Dialogue

• Providers
• Residents

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How this Guidebook Empowers Residents

• Gives them a process for evaluation and making
  change
• Dont have a Resident Council? Consider Forming
  One
• Your Resident Service Plan
• Its Not Just About Healthcare
• Do your part!

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Exercise

• Risk-Taking
• Think about an elderly or disabled person who is
  heavily dependent.
• Make a list of the things that this individual
  might want to do that you think is risky.
• Add to this list things that this person might
  want to do that would not be allowed in an
  assisted living residence.

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Exercise

• Look at this list. Put a check next to those
  things you consider unacceptable risks. Put a
  cross next to those things you consider
  acceptable risks.
• Discussion discuss reasons
• Why might an individual want to do those things
  you consider an unacceptable risk?
• What are the possible benefits to the individual
  of doing these things?

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• How do you think you would use this booklet?

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Additional Resources

• www.assisted-living411.org
• www.aarp.org
• www.aoa.gov
• www.aahsa.org
• www.alfa.org
• www.ccal.org
• www.eldercare.gov
• www.caregiver.org
• www.ncal.org
• www.ltcombudsman.org