TYPES OF FACILITIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE
Assisted Living Facilities and Comprehensive Personal Care Homes offer a supportive residential setting and assistance with activities of daily living and are intended to promote "aging in place" in a homelike setting. These facilities assure that their residents receive supportive health and social services as they are needed to enable them to maintain their independence, individuality, privacy, and dignity in an apartment style living unit. The assisted living and comprehensive personal care environments promote resident self direction and decision making while protecting resident's health and safety. Assisted Living facilities are licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Class C Boarding Homes contain two or more living units and offer rooms and meals as well as financial and personal services (assistance with check cashing and limited personal assistance). Class C boarding homes cater primarily to the elderly and are licensed by the Department of Community Affairs.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) offer a contract providing a continuum of care from independent living through Long-Term care based on an entrance fee and a monthly charge for services provided. If residents, who usually join the community as self-sufficient individuals in relatively good health, eventually develop health care needs, there is a licensed long-term care unit (assisted living or nursing home) available within the community. CCRC's are licensed by the Department of Community Affairs.
Independent/Subsidized Housing Facilities feature individual apartment units with kitchens or kitchenettes. Rents vary depending upon the size of the unit, services offered and the income level of the tenant. Many facilities are financed through government subsidies that provide for lower rental rates to qualified persons according to their income level. Supportive services may be offered, including meal programs, counseling, housekeeping, transportation and social activities.
Long-Term Care/Nursing Facilities are licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services to provide nursing and health care services with medical supervision on a 24-hour basis to individuals whose physical and/or mental condition requires continuous nursing or health care related services. Long-Term Care may be appropriate for people who have suffered a catastrophic illness or accident that requires major changes in life-style and needs; or have a debilitating or chronic illness that causes deterioration of self-care skills, such as Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders or have major health needs, such as physical rehabilitation, recuperation after hospitalization for serious illness, restorative services, tube feeding, or special equipment or treatment. Providers may be certified to receive Medicare and/or Medicaid funding.
Residential Health Care Facilities (RHCF) In many instances, an elderly person is unable to live independently, but can walk with or without an assistive device, is reasonably oriented mentally and does not have significant medical needs. For this individual, a residential health care facility might be best. These facilities, which are licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services, provide a home-like atmosphere, food, housekeeping and laundry service, recreational activities, supervision of medication needs, and assistance in getting health services. This atmosphere encourages independence for as long as possible, while assuring safety. Many long-term care facilities also have separate residential health care units for individuals who do not require skilled nursing care.
