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IT CAN HAPPEN: SENIORS GETTING KICKED OUT OF ASSISTED LIVING

dailycaring.com • February 21, 2023

I found this on dailycaring.com and thought it real important to share with you (I copied and pasted it here for you to read). This can really happen. PLEASE don't let it happen to you or your loved one!


Terrible, but true: seniors can get kicked out of assisted living


It’s awful, but defenseless older adults are actually getting kicked out of assisted living facilities.


It’s called involuntary discharge and basically means they could be evicted with only 30 days written notice.


As a family caregiver, it’s important to understand why this could happen and how you to protect your senior from a terrible situation.


Regulations around assisted living discharge


Each state has regulations that protect assisted living residents from being kicked out for unlawful reasons.


The regulations and notice period may vary by state, but in general, there are only a handful of reasons that allow a facility to involuntarily discharge a resident.


This includes:


  • Not paying the bill.
  • Needing more health care or personal assistance than the facility is licensed to provide.
  • Endangering the health or safety of other people.
  • Breaking a rule in the resident contract (aka admission agreement).
  • Closing of the facility (going out of business).


Facts you need to know about being evicted from assisted living


If your senior has been told to leave, these basics help you make sure the facility isn’t trying to retaliate against complaints or get away with something illegal.


  • Facilities have to provide written notice to the resident and (if known) to a family member or legal representative.
  • Facilities have to document the reasons they are discharging the resident.
  • In most situations, written notice has to be given at least 30 days before the discharge date.
  • Facilities can’t discharge residents who have submitted a timely application for Medicaid and are waiting to hear about their eligibility.
  • Residents have the right to appeal the discharge decision with the state.


Note: Regulations may vary by state


Where to get help with an assisted living discharge


If your older adult has gotten an involuntary discharge notice, it can always be appealed. Some facilities even have an internal appeals process.


If an internal appeal process doesn’t exist or isn’t helpful, you can file an appeal with the state.


This could be a confusing process, so you might want to involve the local ombudsman. They work independently to help assisted living residents and makes sure problems with facilities get resolved.


It could also help to get a lawyer involved. They can make sure the facility isn’t trying to get around the law.


It’s great if your senior has an elder law attorney, but if they can’t afford to hire a lawyer, contact the local Legal Aid organization.

 

Bottom line


Sometimes, a facility is justified in telling a resident that they must leave. This usually happens when someone’s health or safety is at stake.


But in other cases, the facility may be trying to kick a resident out for an unlawful reason.


To protect your older adult, understand the rules, know that you can appeal the decision, and get additional help if needed.



Know your rights! If you think you or your loved one has been treated unfairly, remember to reach out to an ombudsman or an elder law attorney. They are there to assist you!!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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