Care Suites, Enhanced Care, Specialty Care in Assisted Living
If you have toured senior living communities, you may have noticed that some offer “care suites” or “enhanced care” or “specialty care”. Generally, this level of care in a community may be a wonderful alternative to a skilled nursing facility. With this level of care you benefit from
- improved resident to staff ratios of typically one to five
- more nursing on site
Today we are finding very few sites offering 24/7 nursing in their community but more days and hours than normal Monday through Friday eight to five business hours. It is this level and degree of staffing that you are paying more for in this type of setting. A higher care level is under the same state licensing as assisted living.
Scenarios to consider where a person may benefit from enhanced assisted living care
- Your loved one is a high fall risk and very frail but cognitively very good. A care suite that is within a section of a community with higher staff ratios would be appropriate. Residents are often more visible to the care givers and able to watch your loved one and help them throughout the day as they need it.
- Your loved one is somewhat complex medically; requires sliding scale insulin and has an open wound. A community with care suites or enhanced care or specialty care is likely to meet your loved one’s needs. The questions to ask are: Is there a nurse in the building 24/7? How do they administer wound care? They may partner with a provider. What things are they NOT able to do in this setting.
- Your loved one has been in a rehab or transitional care unit and at a care conference you attend, long term care is recommended. Often it is very appropriate to consider a care suite. Most people would choose a homier setting vs an institutional setting when possible.
Cost of This Higher Care
The cost of this type of care is similar to the cost of skilled nursing home in the Twin Cities which can be $9000 to $10,000 a month. Many times families are not aware of this as an option to consider. If looking at senior living communities and this level of care is offered, you can be more confident that you or our loved one can age in place.
Choice Connections Can Help!
If you need help finding a community that offers this level of care, Choice Connections would be happy to help.