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This is our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. This page should answer some questions
regarding our Adult Family Home and some about Adult Family Homes in general.
Q: We are concerned about
placing our family member as their independence has been important to them. We are feeling confused and guilty about doing
so.
They are considering moving / don't want to move from their home, and/or we feel that we should be taking care of
them at our home instead of placement.
Is this common to feel this way and what considerations should we be thinking
about?
A: It is very common and is not unique to each family. It is common to have clients admitted that
should have been in a supervised setting long before. It gets pushed back until the last minute when dangerous behaviors or
situations have to finally be acknowledged and addressed by the family or guardian. Also, family members take on a daunting
task of trying to deal with caring for someone while still leading a normal life, which is very difficult. Jobs, family, activities,
children, and careers can be challenging and distracting from the full time job of caring for an elderly person, who may also
have special needs and services required.
It is often the best solution to place a family member in a safe, professional
yet homestyle environment where care is focused on their needs 24 hours a day.
Q: What is an Adult Family
Home?
A: An Adult Family Home, is one of the living arrangements available to senior citizens who cannot
comfortably or safely live alone.
Q: Are there different types of homes?
A: Yes, generally
offering the same type of care, but differing in levels of care offered. In the state of Washington each is limited to a maximum
of six residents with some offering rooms from as few as one to the maximum of six residents depending on the ability or size
of the home. Many have shared rooms due to size of home while some larger ones can offer private rooms.
A private room
is generally more expensive than a shared one, and a shared room is generally available for lower paying medicaid clients
or because of size limitation of home.
Q: What about this home?
A: This is a large custom home and
offers approx. 2600 sq. ft. of resident living area on one floor and offers six private bedrooms, 4 with private bathrooms and 2 with a shared bathroom. Each bath has a walk in shower.
The main bath also has a large roll in shower.
Q: What about bathroom facilities?
A: All
adult family homes are inspected and required to provide safety bars & grab rails for resident safety and protection.
However, that is the extent of the requirements and bathrooms are just like in any other normal home. The majority have one or sometimes two bathrooms that are shared by all residents and
of which have bathtubs with adaptive aids.
In a departure from that, this home has baths with custom tile walk-in showers
in each bedroom. This enables a resident to safely enter and exit without having to try and lift legs and body over a
high bathtub wall, preventing accidents.
There is a roll in shower in the main bathroom also.
In addition,
the toilets are handicap accessible with easy transfer and the sinks are ADA approved easy access & wheelchair accessible.
Q: Do Adult Family Homes have a modern office?
A: Actually, most homes are a cozy home setting
with not much extra room. As such, an office is not required. This home does have an office complete with custom resident
information binders, copier, fax, files and computer.
Q: What about phones or televisions in the room?
A: Adult Family Homes vary, and some may not offer those services. The family may have to pay to have
an installer install a phone or cable line to the room at the family's expence, for installation and subscription. This home
has everything already installed and a complete cable T.V. package is included along with 32" HD flat
screen TV sets. The private phone line and jack to the bedroom is in place and a phone is included. The basic phone service
though would be paid by the resident who wishes that convenience. It is approx. $21.00 per month. Otherwise anyone may call
the home line & the cordless phone can handed to the resident. This is reccommended for dementia/memory loss residents.
Q: Any specialty type homes?
A: Some Adult Family Homes specialize in ethnic languages and
offer that service along with those types of meals to seniors who prefer that. There are also developmentally disabled, dementia,
men's only, women's only, mental health, and other specialty homes. Some allow smokers, others do not, pets are also a factor
with some houses. This home is not a specialty home, is non smoking, accepting seniors both male & female.
Q: What specialty's and/or restrictions does this home have?
A: A large majority of Adult Family
Homes have english as a second language, along with the food style that is prepared. This is normal as aprox. a 98% majority
of providers are immigrant americans. This home specializes
in english as a first language and traditional american dishes as a first food style. This might be considered a specialty
in the Adult Family Home area.
There is Wheelchair accessibility, and all types of care such as dementia and mental health,
in addition to other needs that can be met. We do not allow smoking or pets however, to ensure a healthy environment free
of asthmatic or allergic conditions.
Q: How do I know the type of facility to place my family member in?
A: Generally there are three basic types. Starting from an assisted living facility, then an Adult Family Home,
and then a nursing home for skilled nursing care. Care needs and rates start from assisted living to Adult Family Home and
then to nursing homes in that order.
Q: How can I tell which level of assistance they need?
A:
There are qualified assessors who can do an assessment which ranges from $200.00 to $250.00. Our nurse delegator is a qualified
assessor at a reasonable rate.
You can contact us and we will provide you with information on how to reach our assessor.
Descriptions:
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY: A person who is independent in most ways and are fully cognizant,
who may just need convenient cafeteria meals.
ADULT FAMILY HOME: A person who is forgetful, may fall, needs help
with remembering things, needs assistance with activities of daily living, needs monitoring or supervision, or who needs more
intensive help and care would be a candidate for an Adult Family Home.
NURSING HOME: A person who has a condition
incapacitating them requiring skilled nursing facilities, or is a danger to themselves or others, has severe dementia or other
condition requiring that type of skilled care as determined by their assessment or a physician.
Q: What if
my family member declines due to old age or illness? Do I have to move them or can they stay in the home until their passing?
A: The term for that is called aging in place. We are unique in this area as we allow residents to age in place
and eventually hospice. The resident is able to live out their remaining time in a familiar comfortable home environment.
This also spares the family & resident from panic and turmoil caused from placing resident at such a time in a special
program, institution, or special hospital wing and the high cost of those rates.
Q: What are your fees?
A: Fees are charged accordingly to the level of care required by the resident. Fees can range from $1950.00
to $7,500.00 per month or more for a home depending on location & care involved. Our rates are in the 3450.00 to
4500.00 area of cost.
Q: Do you accept medicaid or state clients?
A: Many homes do,
although we are not accepting any at this time.
Q: What is required to move in the home ?
A: Our nurse delegator will do an assessment before move-in. A care plan will then be created, medications arranged
for, and the first month's rent paid for minus any prorated deduction from the first of the month & date of move-in.
There are no long term contracts, rent is on a month to month basis, no damage deposits or last months rent required.
The first month is a trial period and resident may elect to move at any time. Our tenant/resident rental contract is the
state designed and approved form provided by them. Other homes may have different policys other than ours.
Q: What about visiting hours?
A: We have an open door policy within reasonable hours of 8 am to 8
pm.
Q: Is someone always in the home?
A: Yes, caregivers are required to always be in the
home as per the regulations. We have a married live in couple who have been working here for years giving continuity
of care, along with 2 staff support and this home is also owner occupied.
Q: What if my family member needs
help?
A: Most homes have monitors and/or call buttons to further ensure prompt attention, along with other
means to ensure safety and oversight at all times possible.
Q: Do we as the family or relatives have to make
doctor appointments, pick up medications and deliver them, make sure Access bus rides are scheduled, or be concerned about
any other responsibilities?
A: Some homes provide transportation and some do not. We do not,
we can make Dr. appointments and can help arrange the appt. with the family, but the family would transport resident.
This is standard for most homes due to insurance limitations. We also have a visting home doctor that the resident may sign
up for if they choose.
Q: What is covered as far as costs?
A: Everything is included with
the exception of personal items, prescriptions for the resident and related expense such as R.N. delegation, medical supplies,
incontinent briefs, or specialty gourmet / prescription foods such as Ensure.
There are no added expense tab billings
that may be standard practice elsewhere. We own most medical equipment & aids for the free use and convenience of our
residents. Check with homes regarding their policy, as many do not.
Q: What about damage or carpet stains
caused by our family member? Do we have to pay for the repair or cleanup?
A: Generally that is what happens
in most cases. This home owns a professional portable carpet cleaning machine, & we use it at no charge to the
family for that or any repairs. We also have hardwood floors as well that are resistant to wear.
Q:
How does your Adult Home handle the medical needs of residents?
A: We have trained staff who are delegated
in the care and oversight of the residents by the R.N. who has prescribed the care plan and assesment and are trained to
observe and monitor residents and notice any changes requiring attention. Any concerns are immediately relayed to the health
care professionals and any changes in medication, doctor appointments made, or care direction prescribed by them will be implemented.
We can call & receive fax prescriptions with delivery to the home by that same evening, relieving family members of that
burden. Most homes should be able to provide these services as it is required instruction.
Q: Do you have
specific training for this work?
A: All Adult Family Home staff & providers have to undergo training
in; Fundamentals of Caregiving, Nurse Delegation, CPR / First Aid, obtain a T.B. test, food handlers card, and background
inquiry form and register with the Dept. of Health for the NAR ( Nursing Assistant Registered) card. This facility further
has specialty training in Mental Health and Dementia also required for providers. (Operators of the home)
Q: What if I have more questions?
A: You can contact us through phone, mail, E-mail, or you can write to
this site and inquire and I will answer or direct you to the appropriate agency or person if needed.
Notice:
The information provided here is the personal observations, opinions and experience of this provider and is intended as a
general overall synopsis put together in one place intended to cover most issues concerning placement.
This is not intended
to replace any information available but to add to it.
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