Assisted Living – Madison County Senior Living

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living communities can look very similar to Independent Living, with apartment suites, dining rooms, activities, and amenities. The significant difference, however, is that Assisted Living communities are state-regulated healthcare facilities with the purpose of providing care for their residents.

Like Independent Living, these communities include general services like housekeeping, dining, activities, and transportation, but also provide care services to help with activities of daily living like bathing, hygiene, mobility, medication, and dressing.

Assisted Living is best for seniors who are beginning to struggle with performing these basic tasks but do not require continuous medical care. Residents have a greater level of freedom than in nursing or Memory Care facilities. Assisted Living is not for seniors who have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive decline issues.

Basic Services

Housekeeping: Staff cleans rooms and facilities for residents
Meal service: Options for both sit-in dining and room delivery, Assisted Living facilities are required to provide three meals a day to residents
Transportation: Communities provide transportation for residents for things like groceries, medical check-ups, and community events
Social activities: Assisted Living communities often direct a variety of activities like bingo, holiday events, church services, exercise, yoga, card games, invited speakers, and others
Home Maintenance: Staff to help with appliances, plumbing, air conditioning, and other maintenance issues

Caregiving Services

Mobility: help with getting in and out of bed, walking, and navigating the facility
Dressing: from simple help with buttoning up to help with full dressing every day
Medication: reminders for residents to take prescribed medications
Grooming and hygiene: help with shaving, bathing, using the restroom, and other hygiene assistance

Each resident will have particular needs in each of these areas and a care plan is developed based on the level of care necessary for you.

Assisted Living Regulations

Assisted Living facilities require licensing from the state by fulfilling specific criteria, including medical care and checkups, maintenance of medical records, providing meals and general services, allowing resident privacy, and other requirements. Facilities are required to have a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse for residents who medication administration. A full list of the regulations can be found here.

Seniors who apply to Assisted Living will undergo a physical examination to determine their care requirements and diagnose health problems. Prospective residents cannot have open wounds and will be tested for tuberculosis before admittance. Residents also can not have a chronic illness requiring skilled nursing care or need continuous medical care for a period longer than 90 days.

If residents show signs of cognitive decline, they may be referred to a memory care facility. Residents are expected to be able to identify their medication and direct their own care, and if there appears that a resident may be in cognitive decline, a mini-mental test can be administered. Mini-mental state exams test the cognitive functioning of seniors, including tests of attention, memory, language, and visual-spatial skills. Questions often include asking the resident the date, what floor they live on, the name of the facility, remembering a short sequence of objects, or writing basic sentences. A low score on a mini-mental indicates cognitive issues which an Assisted Living facility may not be equipped to provide care for.

Cost of Assisted Living

Assisted Living Facilities in Madison County range in cost from around $3,000 to $7,000 depending on location, quality, and level of care required. Medicare and Medicaid do not help with covering the cost of Assisted Living.

What to Look For in Assisted Living

When deciding which community is best for you or a loved one, it is important to keep in mind what is most important in a living environment for you and what your level of need is.

Amenities vary between communities. Patio areas, indoor common areas, chapels for church services, dining rooms, libraries, recreational rooms, quality suites with comfortable living conditions, gardens, and exercise rooms are all things to look for when considering which facility is right for you.

Getting to know other residents and staff to make sure they’re a good fit for you can also ensure that you can find a community that you can engage with. Some communities offer temporary stays that can help you familiarize yourself with the community before committing to a long-term stay. The quality of services also varies, so it’s important to make sure of the quality of housekeeping, meals and meal service, and maintenance before committing to a community.

It’s a good idea to check out the available activities as communities can have a wide range of options. Guided exercises, yoga, educational events, church services, games, holiday events, group trips, and other social activities may be available.

Outside of the state-mandated requirements for care in Assisted Living, facilities vary in the care provided. It’s vital that the community you choose be able to provide for all your needs.

Madison County Assisted Living Communities

Brookdale Jones Farm

Survey: https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/brookdale%20jones%20farm%2010.27.21.pdf

Country Cottage

Survey:

https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/country%20cottage%20huntsville%20ivy%2012.4.19.pdf

Elmcroft

Survey:

https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/elmcroft%20of%20byrd%20springs%209.26.19.pdf

Grandview at Redstone Village

Survey:

https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/grandview%20at%20redstone%20village%206.12.19.pdf