A person considering a move to a board and care or adult foster home (or a relative helping the person relocate) will be asked to complete an application form. The application may be lengthy and very detailed covering everything from the person's health and finances to his/her likes and dislikes, and eating and sleeping habits.
In addition to the application process and physical examination and evaluation, the resident will also be interviewed. The interviewer will ask questions designed to determine if the facility is the right place for this individual and will give the prospective resident the opportunity to ask questions.
Once the decision is made and the facility has accepted the applicant he/she will be asked to sign a contract called either an admission agreement or a residency agreement. Some states require these contracts and specify the rights and responsibilities of both parties that must be addressed. Clauses generally cover fees, what the resident will receive for the fee, the circumstances under which a resident can be asked to leave or can be evicted, how long a bed will be held when a resident is hospitalized and grievance procedures. Other topics that may be included are the facility's right to inspect residents' rooms, change room assignments and change staffing levels. These agreements should be read carefully and any confusing provisions should be made clear.
Health Assessment
Frequently, the fact that a senior no longer can live alone is arrived at upon admission to a hospital after a fall or other mishap. The hospital's social worker or discharge planner will discuss post-hospitalization living arrangements with you and you can ask about referral to a board and care or adult foster home and assistance finding a suitable facility.
If you don't have the services of a hospital discharge planner, look for guidance in other places such as your local Department for the Aged or other community organization serving the elderly in your area. Ask about facilities in your area and the eligibility requirements of those facilities. Some facilities may require a physical examination prior to admission to determine the applicant's health status and ability to function in the facility's environment. This may include an assessment of the applicant's ability to perform ADL's such as bathing, dressing and toileting without assistance.
Your health maintenance organization (HMO) may have staff available to offer guidance or may refer you to agencies that can help. A private geriatric care manager also can help with the entire process from deciding on the best housing option to finding and visiting facilities and arranging the move. However, you will have to pay a fee for this service, a concern for those with limited incomes. You can locate a geriatric care manager online at the web site of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers at www.caremanager.org or by calling 520-881-8008.