Prime Living
A dult foster care Helping our elderly and disabled stay in the community By Joyce Rowley
What do you do when you’ve had a stroke and can’t go back home to live alone? Or you’ve had a horrendous car accident, made it through rehabilitative care, but now need help with basic living activities like dressing or getting in and out of a wheelchair? At a time like that, the comfort of home is invaluable. Having to move away from family and friends can add an emotional burden to an already difficult period of adjustment. Adult Foster Care (AFC) has been set up by the Commonwealth to help frail elderly or adults with disabilities who can no longer live independently. To be eligible, the person must be over 16, unable to live alone due to a physical, medical, cognitive, or mental condition. Also, they must need help with one or more daily living activities such as bathing, walking, dressing, toileting, or eating.
Community-based solution But if the person needs round the clock skilled nursing care, then AFC is not for them. Although caregivers are trained, they are not intended to replace a registered nurse or physician. Instead, AFC provides a family home setting as an alternative to a nursing home for those people who just need personal care assistance. It is particularly beneficial for people who are long-time residents in the community by letting them stay in the community with their family, friends and familiar sights. Beacon Adult Foster Care in New Bedford is one of 50 State licensed adult foster care agencies in Massachusetts that match caregivers with those in need. What sets them apart, says Keith Quinen, Executive Director, is that Beacon AFC seeks to be a community-based hub for AFC events and activities.
28
“We actively coordinate with other human service organizations and we are a proud member of the South Coast Senior Resource Association, which is a group of professionals and service agencies with a personal and proven commitment to assisting the senior population in our community,” Quinen said. To further keep their clients and caregivers in touch with the community, they use their website. “Our website promotes local events and news of interest to our members and the community we service through our blog and Facebook page,” said Quinen. “For example, recently we had postings on the South Coast Walk to End Alzheimer’s and a community calendar of World AIDS day events.”
A dult foster care benefits One benefit of adult foster care is that the client lives like a member of the family. The caregiver provides assistance with everything from medication reminders to transportation to medical appointments and social visits. The caregiver may also do the laundry and shopping as needed, cook meals, and clean. The client is assessed for the level of care needed. People who need daily assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, getting in or out of a wheelchair and ambulating are considered Level I. If assistance with three or more activities is needed, or intervention with wandering, resisting care or disruptive behavior
F ebruary / M arch 2012 S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
is needed, then the client is placed with a caregiver experienced in Level II care.
How caregivers are selected The caregivers go through a thorough screening process, even if they are related to the client, says Holly Stevens, Program Director at Beacon AFC. Although the State only requires a physical and tuberculosis test, Beacon also requires that the caregiver receive approval by their physician to ensure that they’re up to the task. As is required under State law, Beacon AFC conducts a criminal background investigation of all caregivers. Finally, the caregiver’s home must be assessed and meet State requirements. Beacon AFC provides caregivers with initial training. Once an adult is placed in the home, one of Beacon’s registered nurses or care managers visit monthly and provide ongoing one-on-one caregiver training. Some clients need both an RN and a care manager visit depending on how much personal assistance is provided. Caregivers receive a tax-free monthly stipend for the foster care. The amounts range from $600 to $1,500 depending on the level of assistance with daily needs. The program is based on income and the costs are reimbursed through Mass Health. “This money goes a long way in helping to defray the costs of providing full-time care for someone,” said Quinen.
Resources Beacon Adult Foster Care www.beaconafc.com South Coast Senior Resource Association www.southcoastsra.com For general information on adult foster care: massresources.org/adult-family-care.html