Will Assisted Living Fit My Needs?

Assisted Living comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Every community is unique in personality, environment, features and the services they offer. Finding the perfect setting is easier than you may think.

Assisted Living is offered under a variety of levels in the State of Wisconsin. These include: Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC); a Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF); and Adult Group Homes. The size of the Complex/apartments, Residence/suites or Home/room will vary.

The individual supportive services will differ from setting to setting. You and your family and physician should assess your current needs as well as future needs to determine the best fit. Your checklist might include:

Atmosphere— will you be comfortable in the setting, is the environment homey, etc.

Physical Features— floor plans, hallways, cleanliness, etc.

Assessments, Costs & Contracts— care plans, periodic resident updates, contract with fee information, etc.

Individual Unit Features— Size, urgent response system,

Services— 24 hour staff, Registered Nurse, House keeping, beauty parlor, etc.

Medication and Health Management— does staff supervise medication, is therapy available, etc.

Food Service— number of meals provided per day, are snacks available, can food be kept in your suite, etc.

Recreational Activities— is there a schedule of daily activities, are there outings into the community, religious activities, etc.

Location— Is the location convenient for friends and family, are there outside interests near by, shopping, churches, health professionals, etc.

As you begin your investigation it is important to ask each Assisted Living Residence how they will accommodate your individual needs. Examine your finances and ask about costs.

If you decide that assisted living may be a good fit, you may be interested in these resources: