In the search for an assisted living community in Seattle and its nearby areas, there is this question about the level of care your loved one needs? Generally, assisted living levels of care refers to the degree of assistance a person needs accompanied with the activities of daily living (aka ADL) and management of one’s health.
ADL includes activities like getting dressed, taking a bath or shower, eating and using the restroom. Medical needs depend on whether the individual can take prescription medications and manage delicate conditions totally on their own. if they can’t, what level of assistance will they need from a caregiver?
Levels of Care at an Assisted Living Community
Level One – Low level of care. The resident is mostly independent but may need a reminder to perform ADLs. Some require a low level of supervision or assistance to ensure that tasks are performed correctly and safely.
Level Two – Intermediate or moderate level of care. The resident may be partly independent with some ADLs, such as feeding oneself but need help with others, such as getting dressed.
Level Three – High level of care. The resident has impairments that affect multiple ADLs and requires a comprehensive level of assistance from more than one caregiver.
Some regular ADLs are listed below to help you understand whether your senior loved one needs help with any of them as well as the amount and type of help they require.
- Bathing. Some residents need a reminder to take a bath or shower at the right time. Some can’t take their baths by themselves and need caregivers to assist them to avoid falling in the bathtub.
- Dressing. A resident may be able to put clothes on but cannot fasten buttons and zippers. Some have the problem of choosing the right cloth for an occasion.
- Grooming. Activities like brushing teeth, fixing one’s hair and shaving may be challenging for aged people if their shoulders are too weak to hold their hands for a long while.
- Mobility. Activities like walking, using mobility aids, and the ability to transfer or stand needs a caregiver. Residents on wheelchairs don’t need much assistance in mobility but may need in bathing.
- Incontinence. Residents who need a caregiver to help them change their diapers and protective underwear need an advanced level of care.
- Eating. While some residents may be able to eat, some need help with cutting their food, other if unattended may choke on their food and therefore needs a caregiver to assist.
- Medication. Some residents either need help with popping the containers and blisters of their tabs, a reminder to take their medication or assistance with taking the correct dosage.
- Number of caregivers needed. If a resident needs assistance with one ADL, then the resident is said to need a low level of care and therefore needs one or two caregivers but if the resident needs help with multiple ADL, then such resident should look for assisted living facilities that offer a high level of care.
Having a clear understanding of what one needs enables a person to make more informed decisions on how to get it. A1 Senior Care Advisors are here to assist you with assessing the level of care that your senior loved one needs. We also work with you to find the best Assisted Living Options in Seattle, Bellevue, and Tacoma area. A proper level of care ensures longevity and overall happiness of seniors as they live their advances ages.
