The Importance of Senior Living Assessments & How They Help Determine Level of Care

Senior living communities conduct needs assessments to provide the best possible care for incoming residents. Not only will a needs assessment ensure the facility places the resident in the most appropriate level of care, but it will also help staff members identify what type of care and assistance a resident may need on a regular basis.

Needs assessments measure various factors, including a person’s overall mental condition, medical needs, dietary needs, and more. By understanding these different factors, staff members can develop a care plan tailored to each resident.

What A Needs Assessment Measures

Behavioral & Mental Condition

• Orientation: A needs assessment will often include questions about a person’s ability to orient themselves in time and space. This information can help staff members understand how well a resident can understand and process new information.
• Memory & Confusion: The needs assessment will also ask questions surrounding the person’s memory and level of confusion. Even if a person lives in a memory care facility, assessing their current functioning level is vital to providing the best care. And if they don’t require memory care, they may still need assistance with tasks like remembering to take their medication.
• Mobility: Another critical factor that a needs assessment measures is a person’s level of mobility, including their ability to walk independently, transfer (move from one surface to another), and utilize stairs.

Medical Needs

In addition to behavioral and mental needs, a needs assessment will also ask questions about a person’s health and medical conditions.

• Health Issues: Any senior living community will need to know about a person’s health issues. This includes both chronic and acute conditions.
• Fall History/Risk: One of the main concerns for staff members in a senior living community is preventing falls. A needs assessment will ask questions about a person’s fall history and any risk factors that may make them more likely to fall.
• Oxygen Use: Many seniors need to use oxygen regularly through a portable tank or oxygen concentrator. A needs assessment will ask about a person’s oxygen use so that staff members can be prepared to provide the necessary assistance.
• Medication Needs: It is also important for staff members to know what medication a person takes and how often they need to take it. This information can help ensure that residents are taking their medications as prescribed.
• Medical Monitoring: Sometimes, staff must monitor a resident’s medical conditions. This could include things like their vital signs, weight, blood sugar levels, and more.

Dietary & Nutritional Needs

Another important factor that a needs assessment measures is a person’s dietary and nutritional needs, including dietary restrictions, allergies, or preferences, as well as whether they can cook for themselves.

Personal Care & Hygiene Needs

We will also measure the resident’s personal care and hygiene needs. These questions will pertain to bathing, dressing, and using the restroom.

• Bathroom Assistance: For many seniors, navigating the bathroom can be challenging. A needs assessment will ask about a person’s ability to use the restroom independently, bathe, and groom themselves.
• Housekeeping: Housekeeping is another important factor to consider when moving to a senior living community. Your chosen facility will likely ask about a person’s ability to perform various tasks like doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning on their own.
• Getting Dressed: Many seniors need assistance with dressing and undressing, so an assisted living needs to know about a person’s ability to do this independently.

Transportation Needs

Finally, the needs assessment will also ask about transportation needs. The senior living community will need to know whether the person has a car, how they get around, and whether they need assistance with transportation.

Why A Needs Assessment Is Important When Moving To A Senior Living Community

A needs assessment is essential to help staff members provide the best possible care for each resident. By knowing the needs of each person, they can be better prepared to meet those needs and provide the necessary assistance. In addition, a needs assessment can help to identify any potential problems that may arise during the move to a senior living community.

How Often Are Needs Assessments Given?

It is important to note that needs assessments are not just for new residents. Still, their frequency will vary depending on the facility. Some assisted living communities require a needs assessment yearly, while others may only require one more often. Be sure to check with your chosen facility to see how often they give their residents a needs assessment.

A Needs Assessment Allows A Smoother Transition To Senior Living

If you or a loved one is considering moving to a senior living community, ask about the community’s needs assessment process. It will give you a better understanding of what to expect and help ensure that you or your loved one is placed in the most appropriate level of care.

At Daylesford Crossing, we pride ourselves on providing the best possible care for our residents. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about our needs assessment process. We want to help make the transition to senior living as smooth as possible for you and your loved ones. Give us a call today to learn more or fill our a contact form & we will reach out to you.