Assisted Living Placements Blog

“Given the choice, most seniors would prefer to continue to live in their own homes regardless of the dangers or isolation they may face due to declining physical and mental condition. Unfortunately, a majority of elderly people gradually do face loss of independence and require either assistance in the home or a move to a care facility. The adult children of these seniors often face the difficult challenge in helping their parents make the right choices. These decisions are fraught with pitfalls and long range, sometimes unforeseeable consequence. So families are forced to digest loads of information, explore endless options and try to foresee where a loved one will be best served. Knowing that decisions of life altering importance have to made, where do we start? The answer is, of course, that we start with education. With help there is time to do the research before being forced into a bad decision or worse yet, lack of decision causes an accident.”

Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………… 1
Eldercare, Custodial Care, and Assisted Living…………………. 5
The Assisted Living Concept………………………………………….. 11
Needs Determine Care…………………………………………………. 15
Basic Activities of Daily Living………………………………………… 17
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living……………………………… 23
Diagnosis versus need…………………………………………………. 27
The Goal…………………………………………………………………….. 29
California RCFE……………………………………………………………. 37
Medical Needs Versus Non Medical Needs……………………….. 39
Basics of California Assisted Living…………………………………. 47
Exceptions and Hospice Care………………………………………… 51
Breaking down California’s Choices………………………………… 53
Assisted Living Communities…………………………………………. 55
Secure Dementia Units…………………………………………………. 63
Board & Care Homes……………………………………………………. 67
Picking a Home……………………………………………………………. 71
Appendix A – Glossary………………………………………………….. 73
Appendix B – Lawton IADL scale…………………………………….. 121
Appendix C – Assisted Living Checklist……………………………. 125
Appendix D – Ten Signs of Alzheimer’s…………………………….. 131

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patrick C Van Slyke was raised in Sheridan Wyoming and attended school at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. In the early 90’s Patrick worked for the Riverside County Department of Social Services in Riverside California. During this time his daughter Natasha was born and in an effort to spend more time with her, and also in hopes of helping at-risk senior citizens Patrick started Assisted Living Placements, Inc. 

The vision behind the company was to help seniors make educated decisions about assisted living by evaluating assisted living and providing seniors with information. Since that time Patrick has evaluated thousands of assisted living Communities and homes and has helped thousands of seniors and their families navigate the confusing maze of eldercare services.

Recently Patrick worked to put his experience on paper and has become a first time published author. “The Abridged User’s Guide to Assisted Living” is now available.