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Senior Housing Terminology, Acts and Regulations Ever wonder why, when browsing the Internet, you come across a service provider that offers "a,b,c" services and another that offers "a,b,h" services - and they both call themselves an Assisted Living or Comunity Care Facility? Take a look at the definitions contained in the current Community Care and Assisted Living Act and Regulations. The following information was found on the various BC Government and Health Authority web sites. It is included here as a guide only. For complete up-to-date information please refer to the Act and Regulations above. Terminology
Independent Living offers suites in an apartment-like setting. Generally no communal facilities (such as a dining room). Other terms: Retirement Living.
Supportive Housing offers independent living with basic hospitality such as meals, housekeeping, and activities. Supportive Housing is a community living environment with shared dining, recreation and lounge areas. Support services are designed to promote independence for tenants, while involving family and friends in their care. Some supportive housing operators may also offer personal assistance but only at a support level, not at a *prescribed services level. Other terms: Retirement Living, Intermediate Care IC(1)(2).
Assisted Living provides the same services as Supportive Housing plus personal care and professional health support, 24 hours per day. Assisted Living is a community living environment with shared dining, recreation and lounge areas. Residents of assisted living have access to professional care (e.g., physician services, nursing care) in the same way they would have if living independently in the community. It is intended for people who are able to select and direct the personal assistance services they need. Other Terms: Intermediate Care IC(1)(2).
How is Assisted Living Different From Supportive Housing?
Supportive housing and assisted living residences are similar in that both offer housing and hospitality services designed to meet the needs of the resident population. They differ in that supportive housing operators may not [be able to] provide the full five hospitality services available to residents in assisted living. Some supportive housing operators may also offer personal assistance but only at a support level, not at a *prescribed services level. Supportive housing operators do not need to register their residences.
Complex Care provides services to individuals needing Complex Care - when the amount of daily care needed is more than can be safely managed at home, or in a supportive or assisted living setting. Complex Care is further defined as individuals not having the ability to walk or transfer independently, requiring help with bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, and medications. A complex care facility is a community living environment with shared dining, recreation, and lounge areas. Room accommodation is often shared. Other Terms: Intermediate Care IC(3), Extended Care, Intermediate Care, Residential Care, Nursing Home, Multi-Level Care, Community Care Facility. Campus of Care provides independent housing, assisted living and complex care under one roof, allowing elders the opportunity to age in place. The Campus of Care works well for couples; if one partner is able to live independently and the other requires professional care they can both be accommodated.
Congregate Housing is a building, containing residential units designed specifically to accommodate seniors as they age, with separate common areas for dining and socializing, and where support services are provided.
Co-operative Housing is owned and managed by co-operative associations of the tenants. Non-Market Housing provides housing for those who cannot afford to pay market rents. It is housing owned by government, a non-profit or co-operative society. Rents are determined not by the market but by the residents' ability to pay. Non-market housing is designed for independent living. Non-Profit Housing is owned and operated by public and private non-profit bodies. Provides subsidies for projects developed and managed by local non-profit bodies, either public or private.
Public Housing projects are owned and operated by government agencies. The Federal Government enters into partnerships with the provinces to build and manage subsidised rental housing for low-income groups.
COMMUNITY CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING ACT Levels of care
Under the legislation, assisted living residences will be defined as premises in which housing, hospitality and at least one but not more than two prescribed* care services are provided to three or more adults. Residences that provide more than two care services must be licensed as community-care facilities. This distinction will ensure that the appropriate levels of protection are in place for people in care.
Hospitality services are defined as meal, housekeeping, laundry, social and recreational opportunities, and a 24-hour emergency response system. Care services, to be established by regulation as *prescribed services, include assistance with activities of daily living (eating, mobility, grooming), management of medication and management of valuables, as well [as] nutrition, behaviour management and various rehabilitative therapies.
Regulations will set out the prescribed services (see below) and establish health and safety standards for the delivery of services. As well, details of an application process, procedures for suspending and cancelling registration and any associated fees may be set by regulation.
COMMUNITY CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING REGULATION
*Prescribed services 2 For the purpose of the definition of "prescribed services" in section 1 [definitions] and section 34 (4) (a) [power to make regulations] of the Act, "prescribed services" mean the following: (a) regular assistance with activities of daily living, including eating, mobility, dressing, grooming, bathing or personal hygiene;
(b) central storage of medication, distribution of medication, administering medication or monitoring the taking of medication;
(c) maintenance or management of the cash resources or other property of a resident or person in care;
(d) monitoring of food intake or of adherence to therapeutic diets;
(e) structured behaviour management and intervention;
(f) psychosocial rehabilitative therapy or intensive physical rehabilitative therapy.
In each personal assistance service area, service providers can choose to deliver services at either a less intensive support level or a more intensive *prescribed services level. An assisted living residence can provide any number of personal assistance services at the Support Services Level. However, the Act limits assisted living residences to providing one but not more than two personal assistance services at the *prescribed services level. Support Service Level For a complete differentiation of Support Level vs. Prescribed Level services please refer to the Personal Assistance Services Self-assessment Worksheet. Hospitality Services
The Act refers to five hospitality services: meals, housekeeping, laundry, social and recreational opportunities, and a 24-hour emergency response system:
• Meal services provide balanced and adequate nutrition for residents; safe practices are followed in meal preparation and delivery; a dietary plan is established for each resident that has food allergies or intolerances and special or therapeutic dietary needs; and appropriate professional advice (e.g., registered dietitian) is obtained to provide special and/or therapeutic diets.
• Housekeeping services are provided at a frequency, and with appropriate practices, to meet the health and safety needs of individual residents.
• Laundry services produce sanitary flat linens (e.g., bed sheets and covering, towels) and personal laundry; clean laundry is stored in a sanitary manner; linens are changed at intervals necessary to avoid health issues; and resources are provided for residents to do their own personal laundry.
• Social and recreational opportunities provide life enrichment through leisure pursuits, social interaction and community involvement.
• 24-hour emergency response system provides residents with the ability to summon emergency assistance 24 hours a day.
~ Yes, but... Is there a doctor in the house? No. Care facilities do not staff doctors. Each residents's own doctor would continue to take care of them (you make an appointment, you go see the doctor, or if you are lucky, the doctor will come to you). The facility staff might call the resident's doctor on their behalf, but that is not guaranteed. So what happens if I am sick? Hopefully you will have an advocate "on the outside" that will notice something isn't "quite right," and will make the arrangements for you to see your doctor. Don't assume you're not "sick enough" to see a doctor because the facility staff haven't called someone. If you are sick, ask the facility staff to call your doctor (if you are unable to call him/her yourself).
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