Country Living, Inc.

Why assisted living may be an appropriate option for you or your loved one?

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With aging, some everyday tasks that are just part of independent living may become unmanageable. For example, cooking nutritious meals may become burdensome enough to simply skip eating or eating non nutritious snacks. Even daily hygiene habits such as bathing, laundry, and housekeeping become tasks that are postponed.  The worries of yard work, property tax, and home maintenance issues can become overwhelming. 

For older adults who need some support and assistance to carry out their daily activities but are still able to move on their own and don't have severe cognitive deficits, assisted living is a good option for senior care. Assisted living facilities are not nursing homes. The hospitality and home-cooked food along with activities make seniors’ lives more enjoyable. 

The community setting combats loneliness that often occurs when seniors live alone. The regular meals and medication management actually improve the health of most residents. 

Choosing an assisted living facility like Country Living can extend and enhance the quality of your life or the life of a loved one.

 

How does Country Living address the activities of daily living?

1. Eating and nutrition - Country Living serves three meals a day in a common dining area. The meals are prepared on site including made to order breakfasts, a salad bar, nutritious balanced meals, and desserts. Special dietary restrictions are observed for residents. Each apartment has a refrigerator so residents have access to their special snacks. There are also full kitchens in the 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, so residents can prepare their favorite foods. They can continue to prepare favorite recipes for a reunion or church event. The efficiency apartments have a microwave. 

2. Housework - Residents may choose to clean their own apartments. Residents may also choose to have Country Living staff clean their apartments for an additional fee. Residents may choose to do their own laundry in the laundry room at Country Living or they may choose to have staff do the laundry for an additional fee. 

3. Life and household management - Family members decide what tasks their loved ones will continue to manage when moving into Country Living. Some residents manage their checkbooks, receive mail at Country Living, drive their own vehicle, and make their own appointments. Other families choose to assume those tasks for their loved ones. There is a beauty salon onsite. The Harper County transportation bus provides transportation for residents. The local pharmacy provides delivery service to Country Living. 

4. Mobility issues and getting around - Country Living has zero entry doorways. The facility is one floor with no steps. The doorways are designed for wheelchair and walker access. The bathrooms are also handicapped accessible. The hallways have handrails to assist with mobility. The residents wear lanyards to call staff and there are call cords in the apartments’ bedrooms and bathrooms. 

5. Personal hygiene such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting:  Country Living offers 3 levels of care. Some residents manage their personal hygiene independently. Based on an assessment by one of Country Living’s nurses, residents may be placed on Level 1 or Level 2 based on the type of assistance they require.  

 

Who qualifies for Country Living? 

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Country Living requires a pre-admission assessment by one of the nurses to determine whether a person, age 55+, is a good fit for the facility and the amount of support they may need.  The assessment identifies care needs and requirements, cognitive function, health status, level of independence, and medication requirements. The co-operators will review with the potential resident and their family the monthly financial obligations. There is a deposit for the apartment that may be refunded at the end of the resident’s stay or kept if there are damages to be repaired.  If the potential resident has long term care insurance the details of the policy will be reviewed. Each policy has different guidelines and understanding those guidelines is key to utilizing the policy to its full potential. Some policies do not pay for the first 3 months. Some policies require that residents receive particular services. 

 

What does Country Living cost?

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Country Living is surprisingly affordable. When evaluating the cost of assisted living, a potential resident should total the current cost of living at home including utilities, home and yard maintenance, property tax, property insurance, groceries, cable, internet, and other expenses of home ownership. The sale of a home is an option to fund the cost of assisted living.

Country Living’s basic fees include three home-cooked meals a day, 24 hour on-site staff, emergency call system, storm safe room, smoke alarms and sprinkler system, licensed nurse supervision, indoor and outdoor maintenance, personal mailboxes, all utilities (except phone), and cable.

 

The current monthly fee schedule for Country Living is: Efficiency unit $2810, One bedroom $3045, Two bedroom $3750 Optional: Medication Administration $50, Housekeeping $60, and Laundry $85

 

Based on the nurse’s assessment, a resident may qualify for additional services. Both levels include medication administration, housekeeping, and laundry plus additional personalized services based on the resident’s health needs. Residents may move from one level to another based on changes in their health needs. Level One: $360, Level Two: $600

 

For a couple, there is an additional person fee of $900 a month. 

 

Country Living is unique in offering a two bedroom apartment, a great option for couples. Two bedroom apartments are also attractive for singles who want an office, craft/sewing room, or an extra bedroom so family members can visit. Country Living has four 2 bedroom suites, fourteen 1 bedroom suites, and two efficiencies. 

 

What options are available to assist in paying for Country Living? 

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Medicare does not pay for any assisted living services. There is the self pay option. Long term care expenses are tax deductible under medical expenses. Long term care insurance is accepted, but each policy has different guidelines. 

Country Living accepts residents on Medicaid and VA benefits. Residents must apply and be accepted for these services prior to moving to Country Living or plan to self pay until the certifications are completed. Qualifying for these payments often takes months. Because these payments require Country Living to write off the differences, Medicaid and VA beneficiaries are eligible for efficiency apartments first and one bedroom apartments if an efficiency is not available. Medicaid and VA payments do not apply to two bedroom apartments.

 

How is Assisted Living Different from a Nursing Home?

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Understanding long-term senior care options can be challenging. Assisted living offers a lower level of care and is less expensive. Nursing homes and skilled nursing care offer a higher level of care and are more expensive.

 

Assisted living is for people who need some help with cooking, cleaning and other routine activities and tasks, such as getting dressed or using the restroom. Assisted living offers a community to combat loneliness, fear, and other challenges of living alone. 

 

Nursing homes provide a greater level of medical care in addition to assisted living services. They are better suited for people with serious health conditions, are not ambulatory, have suffered a serious stroke, or require extensive assistance such as feeding. Most nursing home residents have ongoing physical or mental conditions that require constant care and supervision. Residents may be confined to a bed and may require multiple staff or a lift system to help them.

 

Country Living nurses regularly assess residents and changes in a resident’s health may require a move from assisted living to a nursing home.  The staff works with the family to make the best decisions as their loved ones’ health diminishes. Based on the resident’s assessment, Country Living residents may receive hospice services at Country Living. 

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What are the benefits of Assisted Living?

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 1.  Support: Communities provide assistance with daily tasks such as housekeeping and managing medication. The staff maintains communication with family members who live far away. Often early participation in an assisted living facility can prevent or prolong the need for nursing home care. 

2. Activities:  Social activities help combat loneliness and isolation and can improve seniors’ quality of life. Residents can engage in shared meals, worship services, games, and other activities. Daily conversations with other residents and staff activate residents’ minds. 

3. Safety:  The safety features available at Country Living offer peace of mind to both the resident and their loved ones. No longer is there a fear of falling and laying there alone. 

4. Community:  Remaining in your home community means the resident can still attend church, host bridge club, and participate in community events. Visits from school children, churches, and other organizations brighten residents’ days. Friends and neighbors can stop by for visits or provide an outing. 

 

What are ADLs (activities of daily living) and IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living)?

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Informally assessing a loved one based on ADL and IADL will indicate if your loved one is needing additional assistance with daily tasks and could benefit from assisted living.

The term ADL was first introduced by Sidney Katz in 1950. It’s a collective term for all the basic skills you need in regular daily life. These include:

1. Ambulating. This includes the ability to walk, sit, stand, lie down and get up, and climb up and down stairs, both inside and outside your home.

2. Grooming. This includes all activities necessary to maintain personal hygiene, like brushing your teeth, bathing, shaving, and hair and nail care.

3. Toileting. This includes the ability to control your bladder and bowels (continence), use the toilet safely, and clean yourself after use.

4. Dressing. This involves the ability to dress yourself properly, including using buttons and zippers.

5. Eating. This includes the ability to use cutlery and feed yourself.

ADLs essentially indicate your ability to care for yourself without assistance. 

IADLs include more complex activities that are essential to live independently. These are important activities that you don’t need to do every day, unlike ADLs. The American Occupational Therapy Association lists 12 essential IADLs:  

1. Managing your finances, including paying your bills, using bank facilities, and planning your expenses

2. Taking care of your health, including regular doctor visits and following medical prescriptions correctly

3. Doing your own shopping, including groceries, toiletries, clothing, and other necessities

4. Prepping and cooking your meals

5. Managing your transport, including driving vehicles and using public transport

6. Using the telephone, post, email, and other communication devices

7. Doing household chores like cleaning, gardening, and laundry

8. Taking care of pets

9. Caring for children

10. Looking after others, including supervising caregivers

11. Maintaining religious practices, hobbies, or other interests

12. Knowing safety procedures and emergency contacts and responses