When you are looking for an assisted living community for your loved one, you may be concerned about the quality standards on offer. The way an assisted living community operates determines the level of care that you can expect to get. So what are regulations that assisted living communities in Florida are supposed to uphold? In this article, we explain to you Florida assisted living regulations and how you should select a community for your loved one.
Standard License
This license allows assisted living communities in Florida to provide the core services that pertain to assisted living. These include personal care, support with daily chores, provision of meals and so on. All assisted living communities must have this license in order to operate. However, given the fact that there are many people with needs that go beyond the basics, there are different types of licenses that build upon the standard license.
Extended Congregate Care
Here, the assisted living community is allowed to offer a lot more beyond what is available under standard licensing. They are also allowed to offer a certain degree of health care including reading vital sings, basic nursing care and so on. They are also able to care for patients who have fractures and other bone/joint related problems.
Limited Nursing Services
here, the assisted living community is able to offer more specialized care for their residents. This may include catheter support, urinalysis and even wound care. These kinds of assisted living communities tend to be staffed by registered and licensed nurses and offer a lot more comprehensive support for those who need it.
Limited Mental Health
Assisted living communities that have this license are able to offer mental health support to the residents as well.
How To Select The Right Assisted Living Community
it is a good thing to check if the assisted living community that you want for your loved one is fully licensed but that tells just so much. In order to increase the chances that your loved one will get the best possible care, here are some things to be on the lookout for.
How Spacious Is It
Life can be miserable if one has to live in a cramped compound. The same applies to assisted living communities. It is important that there is plenty of space all around. This includes spacious apartments with well thought-through floor plans, spacious common facilities such as dining rooms and so on. It is preferable to have a large compound as well for walks and other activities.
Clear Services
A good sign that an assisted living community knows that they are doing is when they have well defined deliverables and services. These include meals, housekeeping services, transport services and many others.
Good Reviews
Nothing beats a visual inspection of an assisted living community. Take time to walk around and talk to the residents. They are typically able to offer you great insights about an assisted living community. You can also check reviews online including in chat groups or on social media.