Who Evaluates the Level of Care for Assisted Living?

Overview

Assisted living for the elderly provides many care choices.

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Assisted living (AL) is becoming a highly popular care choice for the aging population. Designed to offer the maximum amount of independence possible, AL facilities provide a wide variety of care choices, from complete autonomy to assisting in the activities of daily living. AL care must be evaluated on a regular basis just like any other medical care facility.
Determination of Care

Medical care in AL facilities is not as standardized as in nursing homes or other environments. Several parties may be involved in providing care, including state government, nurses and medical directors.

Government

Every state has its own form of licensure for assisted living. The American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA) offers a complete list of agencies.
Nurses

AL nurses are often responsible for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of care. The AALNA defines the assisted living nurse as a "semi-autonomous health care professional who maintains competency through continuing education, membership in professional societies and certification."
Medical Directors

According to Alec Pruchnicki, MD, a multi-facility medical director in New York, facilities are not always required to have medical directors. Where they are present, they may be involved in direct patient care, guiding the nurses, overseeing visits from outside physicians and reviewing admission applications.
AL Associations

Many states have groups that help with questions on regulation, consumer advocacy and other issues surrounding assisted living.

Overview