Medication Management
The issue of medication management in board and cares raises the issue of other populations served by these facilities. Some board and cares admit only elderly residents with no history of psychiatric illness, while others have a mixed population. This is something to be aware of when considering a board and care facility. Most non-elderly in board and cares are mentally ill persons who have been discharged from institutions or from psychiatric units of general hospitals. There also are elderly residents in board and cares who have psychiatric histories. These residents usually take medications to control their symptoms and they should be closely monitored.
Board and cares also are permitted to admit residents who are at least eighteen years of age and disabled as long as they meet other eligibility requirements (i.e. they are ambulatory).
Having a mixed population in a board and care is not necessarily a negative thing. One advantage of facilities that serve the mentally ill is that they often are required to have more staff on site and/or provide better training for staff members. Staff members usually watch for changes in behavior and appearance and are more alert to such changes, which can be a positive benefit for all residents as can the mix of age groups. The elderly often welcome having younger residents in the same facility and the younger disabled or mentally ill residents may appreciate having the elderly around to provide a family-style environment.