Making the decision to move from a single home environment can be very difficult, but once made, there are many options for individuals to find a new home that will meet their current needs.

Individuals looking to move into a condominium can work with their realtor to find a place that fits their location and financial picture. Apartments can be found by searching the Yellow Pages, newspaper and the "Apartment Book" (a free publication found in the entrance to grocery stores). An Eldersource Care Manager can help you find a new apartment, just call us at 325-2800 or send us a message by selecting "Contact Us" above.

Individuals looking for living arrangements that include some assistance can also receive care management services from Eldersource. We have complied the following information outlining various levels of living arrangements available in our community for older adults.

Housing entities vying for marketing attention are increasingly using terms like “assisted living”, “adult home”, “enriched housing”, “senior living community”, “retirement community”, and “life care community”. These terms may seem interchangeable and confusing, at times, they can even be misleading. Eldersource has compiled the following as a tool for older adults and caregivers seeking information on care facilities.

Independent Living Apartments

Facilities are not licensed or regulated. Older adults are tenants and mentally and physically able to care for themselves. Owner/operator has no responsibility to supervise or provide personal care services. Residents may contract for in-home personal care or nursing services from an outside agency (some facilities have offices for these agencies on-site). Residents also may be able to contract from the owner for supportive services such as congregate dining, housekeeping, hairdressers, and laundry service or transportation. Some “luxury” level independent living facilities include one meal per day in the monthly rent.

Adult Care Facilities

This category includes:

1. Adult Homes

2. Family Type-Homes

3. Enriched Housing

New York State, through the State Department of Health licenses and supervises adult care facilities which provide temporary or long-term, non-medical residential care services to adults who are substantially unable to live independently.

Residents of Adult Homes, Enriched Housing and Assisted Living Programs are provided with personal care and services on a long-term basis; Adults who are able to reside in a Residence for Adults are provided long-term residential care with supervision but without personal care.

Most residents of adult care facilities are in need of supervision and personal care services necessary to enable the resident to maintain good personal health and hygiene, to carry out the basic activities of daily living, and to participate in the ongoing activities of the facility. Personal care includes direction and assistance with grooming, dressing, bathing, walking, and ordinary movement from bed to chair or wheelchair, eating and assistance with self-administration of medications. Adult care facilities are not licensed to provide any nursing or medical care.

• Adult Homes Adult Homes may be for profit, public or not-for-profit and may provide care and supervision to five or more adults unrelated to the operator. Owner provides supervision (reminding residents of doctor's appointments, checking on medication), personal care, housekeeping, three meals per day, 24/7 staffing, and custodial care. Residents should be able (with direction) to evacuate the facility in case of emergency.
  
  Generally, there is no Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement. Some adult homes accept the SSI, but frequently a two-year private pay rate is requested before accepting SSI. Residents may be asked to leave when private pay funds are exhausted.> Several adult homes in our region now provide separate approved dementia care programs within the facility.



• An Enriched Housing Program is established and operated for the purpose of providing long-term residential care to five or more adults, primarily persons 65 years of age or older in community-integrated settings resembling independent housing units. The program provides or arranges for the provision of room, board, houskeeping, personal care and supervision. It does not require 24-hour staffing.



• A Family-type Home provides long-term residential care, room, board, housekeeping, personal care, and/or supervision for four or fewer adults unrelated to the operator. Oversight is by the Monroe County Department of Social Services.

Assisted Living Program (ALP)

According to the New York State definition, an assisted living program is a facility located within an adult home or enriched housing program that combines residential and home care services. It is designed as an alternative to nursing home placement for individuals with stable medical conditions who are nursing home eligible. The operator of the assisted living program is responsible for providing or arranging for resident services that must include room, board, housekeeping, supervision, personal care, case management and home health services. Must provide 24 hour, seven days week supervision. Programs have contracts with the Department of Social Services to take Medicaid, SSI, and home relief recipients.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

New York State lags behind the nation in developing CCRC projects. CCRC's provide room, board, and a range of health care and social services of an on-site or affiliated skilled nursing facility and access to physician services, prescription drugs, and rehabilitation services.

Some "campus style" facilities are sometimes referred to as continuing care retirement communities or lifecare communities because they offer a continuum of independent apartments with home care services, enriched housing and a nursing home. Substantial residency admission fees apply.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

A nursing home that provides 24 hour a day skilled nursing care and related services, or rehabilitative services for the injured or disabled. A hospital is the only other facility to provide this range of medical services. Nursing homes require the completion of a Patient Review Instrument (PRI) prior to placement (Eldersource can provide a list of professionals who complete PRIs).

Please call Eldersource at 325-2800 for information and assistance with reviewing and choosing from among the various options available.