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| Are health care facilities only for those with long-term needs? |
| Today’s definition of long-term care is inclusive of many types of services. Our Health Care Centers provide not only the traditional care which includes chronic or long-term disabilities, but other types of skilled short term services. Sub Acute Care and Respite Care are two individual programs aimed at helping the caregiver and the patient maintain their independence through short-term support. |
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| What is Respite Care? |
| Respite short-term care is specially designed for the caregiver. If you care for an older relative or family member and need brief support in order to take a vacation or attend other personal events we can arrange short term care through our program. |
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| What is a Sub Acute Unit? |
| A Sub Acute Care Unit is a comprehensive, highly specialized inpatient program designed for the individual who has had an acute event as a result of an illness, injury, or exacerbation of a disease process. The Sub Acute Unit provides an outcome-focused, interdisciplinary approach using a professional team to deliver complex clinical intervention in the health care center, avoiding unnecessary and frequent hospitalizations. Sub Acute focuses on training each patient how to quickly achieve their independence and readjust to their own home. |
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| What services are provided by an assisted living residence in Massachusetts? |
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Typically, “assistance” in these residences can be defined as help with the following:
Activities of daily living (or ADLs) such as:
- bathing
- dressing
- grooming
- toileting
- meal reminders
Self Administered Medication Management (SAMM), which provides the resident with reminders and assistance in taking medication.
- Up to three meals a day served in a common dining room.
- Emergency call/response systems or other ways for staff to provide emergency help;
- Activities and programs tailored to seniors’ needs and interests, targeting health, exercise, socialization, recreation, and wellness;
- Housekeeping services
- Transportation services
Assisted living residences offer such services, in private or shared apartments, in an environment with twenty-four hour per day onsite staff capability. Personal care services are provided by staff, known as resident care assistants. Many residences have specialized units, for those with memory loss, that provide special care programming as well as environmental and technological features to support resident safety and improved functions.
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| Can an assisted living residence meet the needs of someone with only minor or short-term memory loss? |
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Many residents with memory loss issues function well for a period of time with the support services offered in the traditional assisted living setting. The degree of memory loss is not the only important factor; other symptoms, such as lack of safety awareness, wandering and getting lost, trouble sleeping, or resisting help, may influence what kind of setting works best.
Assisted living staff are trained to offer the special attention people with memory loss may need without taking away their independence. All residents are encouraged to make decisions and choices about their lives. As resident’s needs change, and memory loss worsens, safety and wellness issues need to be continually monitored and services adjusted in a timely and appropriate manner. Residents and families need to be aware of the risks of a person with memory loss living in a traditional assisted living setting. For example, people with Alzheimer’s disease may wander. Some assisted living residences are designed with enclosed areas that allow a person to wander safely. If a resident’s wandering is a risk to his or her safety, additional services or relocation to a more secure setting may be required.
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| What characteristics should I look for in an assisted living residence with specialized programs and services for someone with memory loss and dementia? |
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Characteristics to look for:
- A structured routine for residents.
- Caring and compassionate staff who have time to interact with residents in a positive and relaxed manner.
- Well-trained staff with the ability to deal with difficult behaviors and situations.
- Clean, comfortable, safe and secure surroundings.
- Activities that reflect the preferences and routines that each individual resident has established over a lifetime.
- Policies that provide clear guidance about things such as medication management, handling safety concerns (e.g., wandering, evacuations) and behavior management.
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