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 home-style 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 home is approx. 2,500
sq. ft. and offers six private bedrooms
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. In a departure from that, this
home has a walk-in shower with a shower chair. 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.
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 a
luxury. This home does have an office complete with custom resident information binders.
Q: What about phones
or televisions in the room?
A: Adult Family Homes vary; most do 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 expense, for installation and subscription.
This home has everything already installed and the cable T.V. is included. 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.
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, and pets are also a factor with some houses.
Q: What specialty's and/or restrictions does
this home have?
A: A large majority of Adult Family Homes has English as a second language, along with the
food style that is prepared. This is normal as many providers are immigrant Americans. As one of the few native born this
home specializes in English as a first language and traditional American dishes as a first food style. This would 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.
Our rates actually match the assisted living rate while providing the extra
service.
Q: How can I tell which level of assistance they need?
A: There are qualified assessors
who can do an assessment, which ranges from $100.00 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 her.
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 HOSPICE. We are unique in this area as we allow residents to age in place and 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 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 $2,500.00 to $4,500.00 per month or more for an average
home. Our rates are on the lower end of the market even though we provide services unavailable elsewhere.
Q:
Do you accept Medicaid or state clients?
A: Yes, we do accept such clients and they receive the same amenities
as private pay clients.
Q: If the resident runs out of private funds and converts to Medicaid / state funding,
will they be able to have continued residency?
A: Yes, we have had that happen in the past & continue
their stay with no changes in service. Unfortunately, due to the way the state system is set up for pay many homes cannot
or will not accept state / Medicaid clients and further, will tend to discharge a private pay resident who converts later
due to the significant reduction in payment the state offers, although the care need and services remain the same.
This
is the current situation until the legislature changes it, which may be a long time in the future if ever.
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 and rent is on a month-to-month basis.
Our tenant/resident rental contract is a standard state approved form. Rent is rarely raised except for the most drastic changes.
Q: What about visiting hours?
A: We have an open door policy within reasonable hours of 8 am
to 10 pm.
Q: Is someone always in the home?
A: Yes, caregivers are required to always be
in the home as per the regulations. This involves sleepovers, live-ins, or multiple shifts.
Q: What if my
family member needs help?
A: Most homes have monitors and/or call buttons to further ensure prompt attention.
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: No, we handle
everything. The exception is transporting resident around for personal trips.
We can arrange for Access bus rides, and
we are on a bus line, but the family would transport resident to places otherwise. This is standard for most homes.
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 everything for the free use and convenience of our residents.
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. However, our facility owns a professional portable carpet-cleaning machine, & we use it at no charge to
the family for that or any repairs. (A carpet service to come in would be expensive.)
The exception to this would be
if a resident actually 'breaks' or tips over a TV. or misc. object or is deliberately destructive, then of course reimbursement
is expected to replace that item.
Q: How does your Adult Home handle the medical needs of residents?
A: We have trained staff who are able 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 which is common form most Adult Homes.
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 are 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.
