Washington is known throughout the nation as one of the most breathtaking, unique states, offering a wide variety of things to do and natural sights to see. Located on the southern border of Washington sets the city of Vancouver, which offers dozens of senior living communities that provide services according to the states licensing requirements and regulations.

This guy will detail the assisted living regulations for residential care communities in Washington, and discuss what families can expect when they apply to a community in Vancouver. By learning about the state's regulations for assisted living, families can get a better idea of what it is like to call one of the area's many residences home.

Vancouver Assisted Living

In Washington, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-term Support Administration department license is all assisted living facilities throughout the state. They define assisted living facilities as entities that provide room and board for residents and help with their activities of daily living. To qualify as an assisted living facility, a community must provide care to at least seven residents.

In Washington, some assisted living facilities are permitted to provide limited nursing services. All their specialize in helping residents with mental health problems, developmental disabilities, or Alzheimer's and Dementia. The right type of assisted living community for each individual depends on their personal needs, and it's important for them to discuss their preferences with their physician and their perspective residence to make sure they are choosing a location that suits them.

 If an assisted living community contract with Medicaid, they must meet additional requirements and provide a handful of specific services that are not required by the states licensing guidelines. The services may include personal care and medication administration.

Senior living communities are defined as assisted living facilities in Washington if they are a home or residence that serves 7 or more residents and provides housing, basic services, and assumes general responsibilities for each resident's individual safety and well-being. As of the year 2000, assisted living facilities are allowed to provide assistance with activities of daily living, either directly or indirectly, healthcare support services, and intermittent nursing services.

Assisted Living vs. Other Types of Long-Term Care in Vancouver, Washington 

Assisted living is the right type of long-term care for many families and individuals, but it isn't best for everyone. In Washington, independent living communities, Assisted living facilities, and nursing homes are each distinct types of residences, offering varying levels of care.

A family should note the independent living and assisted living are distinctly different in Washington. Assisted living communities provide help with each residents activities of daily living, providing supportive services and medication administration to help them transition throughout their daily routine.

Independent living communities do not offer this level of care, instead focusing on the maintenance-free aspect of community-based care. A person may consider independent living over assisted living if they do not need ongoing personal care services to maintain their well-being, but they want to enjoy social events, transportation, on-site meals, or any of the other resort-style amenities that are popular independent living residences in Vancouver.

Nursing homes provide an entirely different level of care that assisted living and independent living communities, tailoring their services for those with chronic illnesses or injuries that require ongoing medical attention. If a person requires ongoing, continuous nursing services, assisted living may not be a viable alternative to nursing homes for long-term care, as they are not required to staff the same types of caregivers, and are not as readily equipped to handle certain medical conditions.

It's important for families to speak with their perspective communities and their licensed physician to learn more about which types of long-term care residences may be right for them.  the right type of community varies for everyone and it's important for each retiring persons in Vancouver to choose a facility that needs their needs.

Standard Assisted Living Services and Amenities in Vancouver, Washington

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services requires assisted living communities in Vancouver to provide a handful of standard assisting living services and amenities to guarantee each resident receive the proper level of care, according to their individual needs.

All assisted living facilities in Vancouver must assume the general responsibilities for each resident that they house. They must promote each resident's safety, health, and well-being in a manner that's consistent with the person's care plan.

Assisted living facilities are not required to provide assistance with activities of daily living, provide health support services, or intermittent nursing services. However, many choose to provide assistance with activities of daily living, and if so, they must provide at least the minimal level of assistance a person requires with activities like bathing, dressing, eating, maintaining personal hygiene, ambulation, and toileting.

Other services assisted living facilities May provide include blood glucose testing, pureed diets, dementia care,  calorie-controlled diets for diabetes, and mental health care.

If a facility chooses to provide intermittent nursing Services, they must do so through staff who are appropriately licensed and credential to do so. These intermittent nursing services may include medication administration, administration of health care treatments, non-routine ostomy care, nurse delegation, tube feeding, or diabetic management.

Additionally, communities are required to provide a minimum of three meals a day for each resident, served at regular intervals. They may not allow more than 14 hours between the communities evening meal and their breakfast unless they provide a nutritious snack after the evening meal but before breakfast. 

All meals must be nutritionally-balanced, and must be adjusted to accommodate each resident's individual dietary needs. For example, a person who requires kosher ingredients to stay in line with their religious dietary requirements is entitled to a kosher prepared meal at their assisted living community.

Communities must make low-sodium, general diabetic, and soft food diets readily available when residents require it, according to their individual service plan.

Assisted Living Apartments in Vancouver, Washington

Just as communities must provide basic services and amenities according to the state's regulations in licensing guidelines, they must provide housing that falls in line with Washington's provisions.

In Washington, senior living communities are not required to provide private apartments or rooms. However, no more than two individuals may occupy one apartment, and they both must agree to share their sleeping space. Facilities which were licensed before 1989 are allowed to house up to four residents in one room, as opposed to the two-person limit for those license after the state.

Some apartments offer private bathrooms, complete with toilets, sinks, and tubs, but others provide community restrooms that residents share. If this is the case, a facility must provide at least one toilet and one sink for every 8 residents. Additionally, communities that provide, nice bathrooms must provide at least one bathtub or shower for every 12 residents. Toilets should be located on the same floors where residents sleeping quarters are located.

If a community provides assisted living services to Medicaid-eligible residents, they may not offer shared living arrangements. these types of communities are required to provide apartment-style units, which must include:

• A separate private bathroom(including a sink, shower or bathtub, and toilet)

• A lockable entry door

• A kitchen, equipped with a cooking appliance, like a microwave or a stove, a refrigerator, add counter space for food preparation.

• A telephone connection in the living area

• A connection for television service

If a community contracts with the state to provide enhanced adult residential care, they are not required to provide private apartments. And these cases, living arrangements may be shared by up to two people, but no more.

Things to do in Vancouver Washington 

Vancouver is located just a few miles north of Portland, Oregon, a city famous for its many things to do. However, Vancouver is home to its own unique points of interest, making it a fun city for those who like to enjoy a day on the town.

One of the most popular destinations in Vancouver, Washington is the Pearson Air Museum. The Pearson Air Museum is located at Pearson field in Vancouver, and is managed by the National Park Service as one of the Fort Vancouver National Historical Sites. The museum offers hundreds of exhibits that give guests an opportunity to explore aviation history in a way they never have before.

Kelley Point Park is another popular destination, located in North Portland just minutes away from downtown Vancouver. The park, which is bounded by the Columbia Slough in the South and the Willamette River on the west, forms the tip of the peninsula where these Rivers connect. The park itself is home to a wide variety of outdoor activity areas, including picnic sites, a canoe launch, breathtaking hiking trails, and a vista point with unmatched aquatic views.

Lacamas Lake is another popular outdoor spot for residents of Vancouver, offering some of the city's best fishing opportunities, it also offers views of densely laid forests, one-of-a-kind hiking trails, and bird watching areas, making it an excellent place where the whole family can have fun.

Funding Assisted Living in Vancouver, Washington 

For some families, paying for assisted living can be a challenge. Ideally, retiring individuals want to pay out-of-pocket, but that isn't always an option when they're living on a fixed income. 

Fortunately, there are numerous options available to help families pay for long-term care in Washington, including specialty insurance policies and helpful government assistance programs.

In Washington, many families use long-term care insurance to pay for assisted living. Long-term care insurance offers a way for families to save money when they retire, letting them all set the cost of their care by paying monthly premiums during the years prior to retirement. 

The earlier a person purchases a long-term care insurance policy, the less they can expect to pay each month in monthly premiums. Therefore, the earlier a person plans for assisted living in purchases their policy, the more they may save overall.

When long-term care insurance and paying out-of-pocket are not options, financially eligible families may qualify for assistance through Medicaid. In Washington, qualifying individuals may receive a special waiver to pay for long-term care. 

The waiver program, known as the COPES waiver, is reserved for adults approaching retirement who require  Assistance with at least two of their activities of daily living to maintain their health and well-being. 

Additionally, a person must be financially eligible for standard Medicaid benefits if they want to receive and assisted living waiver. Recipients must be at least 65 years of age or be classified as a disabled adult by the Social Security Administration.

Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a unique program exclusive to those who served in the United States armed forces. The program, known as aid and attendance, is open to those who were not dishonorably discharged from the military, and who need assistance from another person to function on a daily basis. A person must be financially eligible for the monthly pension through the Department of Veterans Affairs to qualify for the aid and attendance program.

To learn more about aid and attendance eligibility, family should speak with their VA caseworker for more information. A VA caseworker will be able to explain the individual's personal eligibility status and explain the process to receive aid and attendance benefits.