The core of assisted living care is individual support. Facilities use an Individual Service Plan (also called a care plan) approach based on the person's daily care requirements. Before move-in, a resident and their family meet with the selected assisted living facility staff to develop a comprehensive, customized care program based on the individual's interests, needs and desires - many times referred to as an assessment.

The Individual Service Plan helps define the services provided, in addition to the costs associated with such services. Understanding the specific services offered and the costs associated with each service will help you make a more informed decision when selecting a facility.

What is a Care Plan Assessment?

Care assessment
A care plan evaluation is key to quality care and the strategy for how the staff helps the individual. It lays out what type of care and the time increments administered by each staff member, in addition to additional costs associated with the services. An assessment regularly reviews the resident's care and revised as needs change. It gathers information about how well the resident is able to care for oneself. It measures the person's functional abilities: how well a person walks, talks, eats, dresses, bathes, sees, hears, communicates, comprehends, and recalls.

The assessment also defines a person's habits, activities and relationships so that the staff can better assist the resident in living comfortably and feel at home. If staff finds a problem during the care assessment, they can determine its root cause. For example, medications could produce poor balance or could signify weak muscles weak muscles or ill-fitting shoes, or a urinary infection or an ear ache. The assessment determines the cause so that proper treatment is given by the facility's staff.

It's best if an assessment and meeting occur on a quarterly basis or when there is a big change in a resident's physical or mental condition. Many states have specific regulations that address the assessment. Typically, within one week after assessment, the plan takes effect.

A care planning meeting is held between the staff, the resident, and their family. They discuss the life at the facility: the meals, activities, therapies, personal schedule, medical and nursing care, and emotional needs. It's the opportunity for each person to bring up problems, ask questions, give information, and discuss resources. All staff members involved in the resident's care may attend the meeting; nursing assistant, RN, physician, social worker, activities staff, dietician, occupational and physical therapists.

Care plans are popular and used by most of the assisted living facilities. As you can see from the CDC National Survey of Residential Care Facilities in 2010, 94% of facilities developed a formal individual service plan for the residents.