My mother-in-law has moderate Alzheimer's (my FIL can no longer care for her), and she is entering a stand-alone memory care facility on a Medicaid waiver program. I mentioned to my sister-in-law something about the new "Nursing Home" and this upset her and she corrected me that it was an "Assisted Living." Can someone please educate me on the difference as my confusion seemed to be a big error. I am also in healthcare so I feel like I should know. Everything I looked up on "Assisted Livings" did not seem like my MIL could qualify. She needs help dressing, bathing, has incontinence, and is basically needing around the clock supervision. Thanks!
I wouldn't worry what it's called as long as your MIL is getting the care she needs.
In my state, a regular AL can do A LOT for a resident, but, they have some requirements that they can't disregard. Such as they can't keep a resident who requires more than a one person transfer assist AND they can't be double incontinent. Also, a regular AL could not manage the care of a resident who wandered. The goal for the MCs in my area is that they stay there for the remainder of their care, however, they cannot manage the care of someone who needs skilled nursing care.
Someone who needs skilled nursing care, like who has tubes, would need a nursing home. I hope this helps. You'll probably get more responses too.
Assisted Living residents can still do some ADL (activities of daily living) but may need help with some. This would be people needing more help than independent living. (Usually no skilled Nursing other than medications)
Nursing Home this would be skilled nursing. In many areas once a person needs more than 2 person transfer meaning the need for a Sit to Stand or a Hoyer to transfer they need Skilled Nursing or Nursing Home care.
Some Memory Care will permit the use of equipment if the resident entered the facility not requiring such care but has declined to need that level of care.
Each facility will have different requirements. And I think states may also have different guidelines .