Levels of Care Allows Residents to Age in Place at Assisted Living
Residents of The Summit Assisted Living will now be able to age in place.
With a commitment to caring for residents at many levels of care, Assisted Living has added care team members and enhanced training. The goal is keeping residents in their private apartment rather than transitioning to rehabilitation or long-term care.
“We will now be able to care for residents much longer,” Assisted Living Administrator Lisa Watson, RN, said. “This allows residents to stay in their private apartment with their own bathroom with the team members and friends they already know.”
The Summit Executive Director Kristi Martin said team members can provide the same level of care as a long-term facility in the comfortable apartment residents are used to.
“It’s about aging in place, meeting residents where they are and allowing them to remain where they are comfortable without moving to a different environment,” Martin said.
Watson said Assisted Living residents can remain in place all the way up to a Level 4. “It’s a great improvement. We’re able to keep residents at The Summit in their apartment under the same LifeSpire umbrella.”
– Lisa Watson, RN, Assisted Living Administrator
“We develop relationships with them and want what’s best for them. We truly
believe we can provide the best care for them.”
The Summit recently hired a housekeeper so the nursing team can focus completely on direct care. In addition, new registered medication aides, CNAs and LPNs have also been added.
“We’ve done a good job of preparing the team and educating them. They are excited about being able to care for the residents that we’ve come to know and love,” Watson said. “We develop relationships with them and want what’s best for them. We truly believe we can provide the best care for them.”
The Assisted Living team has held discussion forums with residents and their families.
“It’s always a tough conversation to have with someone that needs to leave their home and transfer to another place,” Watson said. “They are thrilled that their loved one will be able to stay here in Assisted Living. There’s been a great deal of excitement around that.”
Independent Living residents get priority for Assisted Living apartments. “It is more important now than ever to preplan your retirement by not waiting until you have a need to move to The Summit,” Marketing Director Brenda Dixon said. “Residents move here and have peace of mind that they will have access to quality healthcare should and when they need it.”