FAQ

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What is a Care Home?

It is a residential care facility that is licensed by the Department of Social Services. It can be an ARF-Adult Residential Facility (for adults 59 years old and younger). It can be an RCFE-Residential Care Facility for Elders

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How do I look for a care home for my loved one?

You can look up care homes in New Lifestyles – The Source for Seniors, or www.NewLifeStyles.com or call 1-800-869-9549.

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Who can move into a care home?

An ARF is for adults from age 18 to 59. An RCFE is for persons age 60 and older.

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What do I need to know to look for a right care home for my loved one?

1. Determine the care needs and challenges for your loved one, such as being wheelchair-bound, having had a fall at home, needing assistance with feeding, needing incontinence care, wandering, forgetfulness, needing wound care, foley catheter, agitation behaviors, and anxiety.

2. Use the New Lifestyle website, or the phone number to find the care homes near your and determine the distance you are willing to travel.

3. Once you find the care home you want to look at, go to the care home and find out if you like it or not.

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What kind of care should I expect from a care home?

A care home is a non-medical facility where an individual with mental and/or physical disabilities can receive assistance with activities of daily living such as feeding, bathing, dressing, mobility/transferring, toileting, and grooming. A care home can be licensed for either ambulatory or non-ambulatory residents. Ambulatory means that in a dangerous situation, this person can leave the building safety without assistance. Non ambulatory means that this individual cannot leave the building safely by him/herself safely, and requires assistance from a caregiver.

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What if my loved one has a tube feeding?

The care home is not allowed to accept a tube feeding resident unless this resident is under hospice care or under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse.

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What if my loved one is a diabetic and needs blood sugar monitoring and insulin shots?

A caregiver from a care home is not a licensed medical/nursing professional. A caregiver cannot check blood sugar nor is a caregiver allowed to administer insulin shots.  The list of persons permitted to perform the blood sugar fingerstick and administer insulin shots follows:

1. The resident himself/herself if he or she is able.

2. A family member of the resident.

3. A licensed nurse hired by the care home.

4. A care home administrator or caregiver who is also a licensed nurse.

 

What is a difference between a nursing home and a care home?

A nursing home is a medical facility licensed by the Department of Health Services; it has licensed nurses, therapists, social workers, and certified nursing assistants. A care home is a non-medical facility licensed by the Department of Social Services. Caregivers working at a care home are not required to be licensed medical professionals.

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What are the qualifications of a caregiver?

A caregiver must be at least 18 years old and must be registered in the criminal background clearance database. In addition to that qualification, our caregivers are CPR certified and have many years of elderly care experience.

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What are the qualifications of a care home administrator?

A care home administrator must have at least a high school diploma and be state-certified as a care home administrator.  As a very notable bonus, one of our administrators is a geriatric nurse practitioner.

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What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?

A nursing home, or skilled nursing facility (SNF), is a facility employing licensed nurses to administer special medical services. A care home is a social (as opposed to medical) community, where residents can receive assistance with activities of daily living.  

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An anecdote

Let me tell you a true story about a couple of my patients, Robert and Pat - they were a couple. Pat and Robert were in their 80’s. They both lived in a senior independent facility. Pat had diabetes and required fingerstick blood sugar and insulin administration; besides diabetes, she had a heart problem.  Robert helped Pat with her diabetes care. Pat also had limited mobility - she could only walk a short distance, about 5-10 feet with a walker while supervised by Robert. Robert was able to drive, was ambulatory, and got around without difficulty. He had high blood pressure, prostate problems and psoriasis, but all were managed well by medications.

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After I knew them for about two years, Pat's health started to decline.  Her ability to walk had decreased and she started falling. Initially, Robert found a care home for her, while he stayed in the independent living facility. The care home cost him about $3600 to $4000 per month. Tirelessly, Robert went to visit Pat every day. After a few months, Robert decided to take Pat back to the independent living facility to live with him because it did not make sense to live separately and to pay two rents . Within a year, after Pat left the care home, she started falling more frequently - it happened almost every week. Every time when Robert left her alone to run to the drug store to pick up a prescription, Pat had a fall. Robert hired part time help to bathe Pat and take her for a ride in her wheelchair for about few hours while he ran some errands. Pat started to have to go to bathroom about a couple times at night. Robert had to get up to help her to the bathroom, and she was having more difficulty walking

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I suggested to Robert, “Pat is getting weaker - she has difficulty walking with a walker and she is wheelchair-bound and she needs more care. I see that you are trying to take good care of her, but at the same time you need to take care of your own needs. On a short term basis, it is okay to care for Pat. In the long run you will burn out. Have you thought about putting her back in a care home? If you get sick, what is going to happen to Pat? I know you love her and you want to do everything you can for her.  You don’t know how long she will live in this condition.” He responded, “I don’t want her to go the care home. I don’t want to pay two rents.” I said, “It is true that it is not worth it for you to pay two rents. There is another option: you can move in to the care home with her so you can live together. Of course, it will cost more than living in independent living.”  He said, “ No , no .” I said, “Another option is to hire a 24-hour caregiver.” I calculated for Robert with the minimum wage at $10/hr x 24 hr x 30 days=$7200.  I said, “Robert, it is a good deal that you paid $3600/month for the care home. It would cost you $7200/month to hire a 24-hour caregiver. At least when you want to go to the drug store or run an errand, you don’t need to worry about her falling. Lucky that she did not have a bone fracture from the falls. She is at high risk for falling and getting fractures. She would decline faster if she continues to fall. She may hit her head and end up with bleeding in her head and she may die from the bleeding. I don’t think you want her to fall and get injured.”  I continued, “Besides, you don’t have a life. At least If you have someone to take care of her, it will give you peace of mind. If some day or some moment, you need space to be alone, you can do so. You can also have a life - go out to dinner with your friends . Right now you are stuck with her 24/7. You could not even get a good night's sleep. You have to wake up every time she needs to go to the bathroom. If you have someone to care for her, at least you can get some sleep. What would happen if some day, you are sick and can’t care for her? What is going to happen to her? I hope you take care of yourself first. I understand you don’t want to spend the money. Life is too short. What if the next time you are away and she falls and dies from the injury? What are you going to do? You might feel guilty.”

 

Eventually, within about a half a year, Pat’s condition declined rapidly and she passed.