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Ruth Nantell and her place of residence break the commonly held vision of an elderly individual who lives outside the home. Rather than dozing throughout her day, the 92-year-old is up and about, carefully groomed and interacting with others. "I love it here," she later says, adding with a laugh, "If I didn't, my daughter would hear about it." Ruth, who has some memory loss and moves around with the aid of a walker, lives in a residential-care facility. Unlike the larger assisted living centers, which typically serve 100 or more residents, full-time care is provided within the home. A white picket fence and large, shade tree adorn the outside of the single-story home that Ruth shares with five other women and their caregivers. Located on a cul-de-sac in Irvine, the inside is equally beautiful despite the emphasis that is placed on safety and accessibility. Doorways, for example, have been widened. Bathroom sinks are curved so that someone using a walker or wheelchair can reach. And toilets and showers have been modified. Extra padding under carpeted areas provide additional cushion in the event of an accidental slip or fall. And an alarm lightly sounds if a door leading to the outside of the home or the garage is opened. What draws notice is Brandy, the resident's pet Sheltie; the popcorn machine that stands against the family room wall; and the garden-cut flowers that sit on the dinning room table near each residents' place mat, which has been decorated and laminated with photos of their family. This particular home is one of 14 residential care facilities for the elderly owned and operated by gerontologist Jacqueline Dupont-Baum. In all, there are approximately 725 residential care homes in Orange County. Ruth began living in one of Dupont-Baum's Irvine Cottages homes in May after a six-week stay at Mesa Verde Convalescent Hospital in Costa Mesa for two broken vertebras. "As she was getting ready to be discharged from there, she really wasn't ready to come back to my home," says daughter Sharon, who also lives in Irvine. "She wasn't quite there, but she really was past being able to stay at the skilled nursing facility." In addition to the 24/7 care and stimulation through a host of activities, including music therapy, exercise, outings and more, Sharon was perhaps most impressed with the matching of like residents. Each resident at the Irvine Cottages receives an assessment prior to placement and is ranked on a scale from one to six. Ruth, who scored a six, was among the most highly functional. "The groupings were mixed," says Sharon of the other residential care facilities she visited. "There were women who were very sharp, like my mother, and then women who were very severely impacted by Alzheimer's. They were all in the same house." The option proved cost-effective as well. Several months prior, the family had hired a full-time caregiver to assist Ruth in her home in Cleveland before moving her to Sharon's home last October. The service cost more than $8,000 a month, compared to a little more than $3,400 a month for a shared room at Irvine Cottages. (Room rates vary according to the level of care needed by resident.) Sharon was equally impressed with the close monitoring of each patient. In addition, to the attentiveness and watchful eyes of the caregivers, the home has 24-hour camera recording and camera monitoring. A small alarm is also clipped to the outside of Ruth's clothes to alert caregivers of any movement during the night. And each room comes equipped with audio monitors. "I walked into Cottage 6 to check it out and ...I knew my mother would be happy here," says Sharon. "And I have the peace of mind that she's really being monitored." For more information on Irvine Cottages, call 949.462.4071. For referrals for other residential care facilities in Orange County, call the United States ElderCare Referral Agency in Costa Mesa at 800.848.1008 or the Council on Aging-Orange County at 714.479.0107. Sandy Bennett is associate editor of OC Family Magazine. A CHECKLIST FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE As with any service, the quality provided varies from. Here are areas gerontologist Jacqueline DuPont-Baum, owner of 14 residential care facilities in Orange County, recommends families check if they are considering placement for a loved one. • Odors: Is the home odor-free? Pay special attention to the kitchen and make sure it has proper ventilation. • Medications: Are they locked and stored in a safe place? Also check to see if the facility charts for medication. • Care plan: This is where areas such as medication changes, behavioral changes, eating habits, exercise programs, etc., are documented. Find out how often one is completed and what areas are covered. • Meals: Many facilities serve food bought in bulk. Are fresh fruits and vegetables included in the residents' diet? • Staff: Ask how they train caregivers, and the length of time they have been working at the facility. What is their retention rate? What is the staffing ratio? • Security: Is the facility secured? Are there alarms in place? • Activities: Are residents stimulated? Are there activities, such as music therapy, exercise and outings? Also check the functional level of other patients. • Setting: In addition to being clean and organized, check for good lighting. Also take into account the size and number of mirrors. Patients with dementia tend to be overwhelmed with lots of mirrors, particularly large. • Medical assistance: What does the facility do when a resident becomes sick or needs lab work or an X-ray. Do they have a physician who comes to the home? Will they take the resident to an appointment? |
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