Assisted Living in Wyoming

Wyoming’s wide open spaces turn much of the state into a beautiful, natural wilderness worth nurturing and protecting. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as the first environmental preserve of its kind in the world. Now, six million tourists visit Wyoming annually to view the marvels of national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, plus numerous national monuments and forests.

Aside from the healthy tourism, Wyoming is a quiet refuge with the lowest population and the second-lowest population density in the United States. Because of its elevation, Wyoming has a relatively cool climate. While they are able to enjoy frequent sunshine, residents of assisted living in Wyoming need not worry about extreme temperatures. Even on the hottest days, the nights are cool and comfortable.

Assisted Living in Wyoming Defined

In Wyoming, an assisted living facility or “ALF” is an establishment engaged in providing a safe and clean living environment to groups of residents who are unrelated to the owner. Services will include:

• Meals
• Housekeeping
• Laundry
• Limited nursing care
• Limited personal care

The facility may also contain units dedicated to the special care of persons with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia conditions.

In accordance with state policies, an assisted living community differs from a “boarding house” in that the clientele receive health-related services and assistance with medications. However, residents of assisted living in Wyoming will not receive instruction on how to perform basic activities of daily living, as they might in a skilled nursing facility, a nursing facility or another type of institution licensed by the state.

Cost of Assisted Living in Wyoming

The average cost of assisted living in Wyoming is between $3,100 and $4,100 per month, ranking the state as the fifth-most affordable for long-term care. The fees for a Wyoming retirement facility are typically paid out-of-pocket, using pensions, savings and/or long-term care insurance.

Here is a list of the average monthly rates* broken down by city for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartment in a Wyoming assisted living facility:

*Genworth Financial 2011 Cost of Care Survey.

A Medicaid nursing home level of care waiver may be available for seniors who meet both financial and medical eligibility. The benefits of these waiver services vary by the individual’s county of residence.

Regulation of Assisted Living in Wyoming

The Wyoming Department of Health regulates facilities of assisted living in their state, and conducts the surveys which monitor compliance with the rules set forth by the Department.

There are strict requirements for the managers/administrators of assisted living in Wyoming. Before obtaining a license to operate this type of establishment, each manager must have completed 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of post-secondary education in:

• Healthcare
• Elderly care
• Health case management
• Facility management
• Another related field from an accredited college or institution

Education requirements may be waived if the manager has at least two years of experience working with elderly or disabled persons, either with pay or as a volunteer. The manager must also complete a test on the administration of assisted living in Wyoming, and pass with a score of at least 85%.

There must be one registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or certified nursing assistant on duty during every shift. If not under regular employment with the facility, a registered nurse will be contracted to review medication every two months and whenever a resident’s prescriptions have changed. This nurse shall also conduct an initial assessment of each resident’s functional capacity and physical health. This assessment should be reviewed at a minimum of once annually.

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Written by senior housing writer Josh Talbot.