Dear manderspm-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. The process of choosing a home and the documentation
required for entry will depend on the facility. Each one differs a bit
from another.
Assisted living services agencies (as they are called in Connecticut)
and their requirements are defined in Connecticut General Statutes §
19a-490 and Connecticut Agency Regulations § 19-13-DIO5. Each assisted
living services agency has its own admission criteria but the
regulations do not allow the agencies to impose unreasonable
restrictions over and above that specified by Federal Law.
A good place to start is to research and evaluate facilities in
Connecticut to find one that fits the criteria for your elderly
parents. You can find out what parent company owns the facility, what
the facility provides and in some cases any past shortcomings noted.
There are a number of databases out there where you can find out about
a facility?s overall state rating and so forth. Here is one example:
CARESCOUT RATINGS
http://www.carescout.com/company/ratings_reports.htm?link=toolbar
Initially, your goal will be to find the answers to these questions:
ASSISTED LIVING CHECKLIST ? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
http://www.ynhh.org/choice/assisted_living_checklist.pdf
The process for getting into an assisted living services agency is
much the same as the process one undergoes to enter a skilled or
long-term nursing facility (called nursing homes in some states).
There are some agencies designed to help people in your position to
learn more about these requirements and to help you choose the right
facility for your parents, help make the transition and help compiled
the necessary paperwork:
ELDERCARE LOCATOR ? COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp
This is a government agency; a public service of the U.S.
Administration on Aging (Department of Health and Human Services). You
may speak to an Eldercare Locator information specialist by calling:
1-800-677-1116
Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ET)
After hours, a message recorder is available for the caller to leave a
name and a telephone number. Calls will be returned the next business
day.
You may also get assistance in starting this ball rolling through The
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). They may be able to
direct you to resources in both Connecticut and Florida who can help
you complete the necessary paperwork and research needed to help your
parents make this transition:
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS (AARP)
http://www.aarp.org/
At a minimum, the AARP site has some very informative articles from
both the elderly person?s and the primary next-of-kin?s perspectives
on the issue:
http://search.aarp.org/cgi-bin/htsearch?config=htdig_www_aarp_org&restrict=&exclude=research.aarp.org+www.aarpmagazine.org+www.faar.org&words=assisted+living
You will also find a number of other organizations here that will have
some knowledge about the resources available to you in terms of
assistance and information:
CONNECTICUT ASSISTED LIVING
http://www.ctassistedliving.com/related_links.htm
Finally, in addition, any Connecticut Assisted Living Services
Facility can answer your questions about the requirements and
necessary documentation needed to begin this process:
UNITED WAY OF CONNECTICUT ? 211 INFOLINE
http://www.referweb.net/uwct211/
I am including some informative links for you since I?m certain you?ll
want to study this issue to find out as much as you can before making
any lasting decisions. I hope they help you in your efforts:
For general information on Assisted Living Facilities:
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ELDERLY SERVICES MANUAL
http://www.ctelderlyservices.state.ct.us/PubsFrm.htm
For information on selecting an Assisted Living Facility:
THE UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION ON AGING WEBSITE
http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Housing/Housing_Services/HH_Assisted_Living.asp
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
9401 Lee Highway, Suite 402
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
(703) 691-8100
http://www.alfa.org/
As a son of elderly parents myself who have since required me to
become their guardian, I know how stressful this can be for you. I
hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations and it in
some way helps to ease your burden. If you have any questions about my
research please post a clarification request prior to rating the
answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your final comments and I
look forward to working with you again in the near future. Thank you
for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
INFORMATION SOURCES
DEFINED ABOVE
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
Assisted living
Connecticut
Resources
Assistance
Information
Research |
Clarification of Answer by
tutuzdad-ga
on
26 Mar 2004 11:12 PST
As I mentioned, each state requires different things, and within each
state, each assisted living services agency may require (or perhaps
not require) others. It?s best to do the research on some assisting
living facilities, identify them as potential candidates for the
elderly couple in question and them approach THEM with questions about
the precise documentation needed. That?s really the most efficient way
to start this project as opposed to wasting a great deal of time
trying to guess and worry about what ?might? be necessary.
In the meantime, (while I don?t recommend anyone handle their legal
affairs themselves without the aid of an attorney) here are some
premium do-it-yourself sources for forms, etc. to get your started ?
in the even that they are even required:
USLEGAL FORMS ? CONNECTICUT
Power of Attorney
http://www.uslegalforms.com/powerofattorney/connecticutpoa.htm
Wills
http://www.uslegalforms.com/connecticut-will-forms.htm
Living Wills
http://www.uslegalforms.com/livingwills/connecticut-living-will-forms.htm
http://secure.uslegalforms.com/cgi-bin/forms/query.pl?S-C-CT-B-power~attorney~health~living
POWER OF ATTORNEY FORMS
http://www.divorcenet.com/forms/patty.htm
(Click on the Health Care links)
Here are some free ones:
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
http://www.familycaregiversonline.com/Legal/CONNECTICUT%20GENERAL%20DURABLE%20POWER%20OF%20ATTORNEY-Immediate.doc
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY UPON DISABILITY
http://www.familycaregiversonline.com/Legal/CONNECTICUT%20GENERAL%20DURABLE%20POWER%20OF%20ATTORNEY-upon-disability.doc
STATUTORY SHORT FORM POWER OF ATTORNEY
http://www.familycaregiversonline.com/Legal/Connecticut%20Statutory%20Short%20Form%20Power%20of%20Attorney.doc
Here is yet another resource that can help you through these confusing processes:
SHARINGLAW.NET ? ELDERLY PLANNING
http://www.sharinglaw.net/elder/
You will find information here about finances, forms, powers of attorney etc.
Again, it is imperative to find out from the potential assisted living
facilities exactly what their requirements are. Then approach the
details of compiling the documents and making the transition,
preferably with the help of an attorney. There is some legwork
involved that will have to be done BY THE FAMILY of these elderly
people and unfortunately there?s not a whole lot anyone can do ?for?
them except those agencies I mentioned who can provide the necessary
direction.
I hope this adds significantly to what we have already discussed. I
encourage you to carefully examine all of the links I provided to see
exactly what each of them can do for your friend.
Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
|
,
0 Comments
)