Author: Sarah Williams
Reviewed By: Brindusa Vanta
A team of medical and long-term care specialists evaluate seniors for assisted living. Seniors require thorough assessments for facility admission and also when applying for financial assistance. Criteria can vary depending on facilities’ policies and state regulations, but individuals must typically fulfill care need requirements. Seniors may need to meet age conditions for facility admission and financial criteria for funding applications. Individuals and their loved ones often have input during the evaluation process.
Admission assessments ensure that a facility can adequately meet an individual’s care and support requirements and that assisted living is the most appropriate long-term care option. Staff members also use these evaluations to develop personalized care plans, which are periodically updated.
The assessment team may include care managers, nurses, social workers, dietitians, activity directors and administrators, alongside input from an individual’s primary care physician and existing support workers. Evaluations typically include details about a senior’s health and medical history, nutritional needs, mobility, cognition, functional abilities and care needs. They also often gather information related to an individual’s interests, lifestyle preferences and family.
Many older adults apply for financial assistance programs to help cover assisted living costs. Although requirements differ between states and programs, eligibility usually depends on a senior’s level of care requirements, resources, residency and citizenship status.Most applications for Medicaid and Home- and Community-Based Waiver programs include case workers, nurses, social workers and financial assessors. Additionally, seniors may need to undergo tests to determine their functional abilities and evaluations often include contributions from an individual’s health care providers.
