For years, providers in the United States met the care needs of older adults in models of care commonly known as "nursing homes or nursing centers." In the 1980s, Oregon and Colorado were among the first states to establish a model of care known as "assisted living." Over the ensuing years, assisted living has become a living environment of choice for millions of consumers who need help with their activities of daily living and sometimes medication support and assistance in order to have the best quality of life and independence possible. The major differences among nursing centers and assisted living:
In Touchmark assisted living communities, the emphasis is on individualized assessments and negotiated services from nursing and care-giving staff as requested by and agreed to by the residents and their families. Individualized service plans detail the services and delivery, and staff use personalized task sheets to note the scheduled and unscheduled needs of each resident.
For the purpose of clarity and mutual understanding, here are some key words and their definitions that are used in Touchmark communities providing assisted living services.
Assessment-Prior to moving into the community, each resident is given a health service needs assessment to assure that s/he is appropriate for the assisted living environment. These assessment tools are state-specific and match the specific criteria for an individual who is considered appropriate for the assisted living program. Ongoing assessments are conducted at 30 days and at least quarterly to assure the services and care are appropriate for the needs of each resident.
Change of condition-A change of condition is considered any event, illness, or injury that results in a change in a resident's level of health or functional status. A new health services assessment is done whenever a significant change of condition occurs that might require a different level of care and services.
Care conferences-These may also be referred to as service plan conferences in some communities; they are regularly scheduled meetings with the resident, family member(s), staff, and a legal representative (if appropriate) to review the resident's needs and the care provided. An initial conference is held after the initial assessment is completed and service points have been generated. Additional assessments are completed within 30 days of residency and/or when a resident has a significant change of condition that warrants a change in the current service plan. Ongoing conferences are scheduled quarterly.
Full Life Wellness & Life Enrichment program-This is Touchmark's dynamic life enrichment program that encourages and supports residents to live happier, healthier lifestyles by becoming personally involved and engaged. Through partnering with Touchmark, residents take "ownership" of their own goals and well-being. All Touchmark communities provide life enrichment/wellness programming that is based on the identified strengths and interests of each resident. There are at least two forms that are used to gather information after a person moves in as well as ongoing.
Person-centered-This is a term used to describe the philosophy of honoring the "self" of each person by respecting self-esteem issues and personal values in every encounter, interaction, and activity.
Person-centered activity-An activity, event, or interaction that is planned and conducted around a person's life history, interests, needs, strengths, and skills. The individual engaging or inviting the person to participate in the activity has a personal and positive relationship with him/her.
Person-centered care-A culture in which a positive relationship is established that respects a person's life history and preferences; honors the person's identity; engages in meaningful activity; encourages an overall sense of well-being; and provides a positive and unconditional regard for the person.
Following is a list of the services that are provided as part of the basic rate at each Touchmark community. There are some variables at each community, depending on the specific building's staffing and services and/or as determined by the state regulations:
Assisted Living services included at no additional charge at most communities:
