Overview of Louisiana Assisted Living

Since the first claim by Spain in 1541, the colorful state of Louisiana has been governed under 10 different flags. Famous for its lively music and spicy food, this Gulf Coast state provides plenty of activity, along with laid-back bayou charm.

The area’s subtropical climate will keep residents of Louisiana assisted living facilities cozy warm year round. For examples of what makes Louisiana an exciting retirement destination, visit www.encorelouisiana.com, the state’s official online guide for senior living.

The average cost of assisted living in Louisiana is $3,010 per month. This is higher than the national average which is $2,877 per month.

 

Fees for residency within an Adult Residential Care Provider have been 100% privately paid in the past, but the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is taking steps to launch a pilot program for Medicaid-supported assisted living in Louisiana. The latest information is available through the state’s Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS).

In the state of Louisiana, a full-service assisted living home is termed an “Adult Residential Care Provider (ARCP).” An ARCP is defined as any agency, whether public or private, that provides residential living units and care services, for compensation, to two or more adults who are unrelated to the facility owner or director.

ARCPs are expected to provide supportive personal services (both scheduled and unscheduled) such as:

• Health-related services
• 24-hour supervision and assistance
• Activities based on a resident’s preferences
• “Aging in Place,” which is defined as “allowing residents to receive necessary support services in response to changing needs and circumstances without having to move from one’s present residence, provided such services are within the parameters of these licensing standards.”

There are several types of facilities that provide care services for adults. Facilities that provide assisted living services are called an adult residential care provider.

• Adult residential care providers provides adult residential care, which includes assistance with activities of daily living, room and board, medication administration and intermittent nursing services to two or more adults as per Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) 40:2166.3. There are four different types of adult residential care providers as per RS 40:2166.5.
  • Personal care homes (Level 1) serve two to eight residents in a congregate living and dining setting, and residents may live in a share or private room.
  • Shelter care homes (Level 2) serve nine or more residents in a congregate living and dining setting, and residents may live in a share or private room.
  • Assisted living home/facilities (Level 3) serve two or more residents who live in an individual living unit which has at least a kitchenette and private bathroom.
  • Adult residential care provider (Level 4) provides services which include lodging, housekeeping, laundry and assistance with personal hygiene. There is currently a moratorium on licensing of this care level through July 1, 2017.

The Department of Health & Hospitals’ Health Standards Section is responsible for licensing and inspection adult residential care providers.

Who can administer medication is at the heart of Senate Bill 628 that was passed in 2012. Before the passage of this law, licensed nurses working in Level 4 assisted living facilities were allowed to administer medications to residents, but the passage of this law, they no longer can perform this task. This means that unless seniors live in assisted living facilities which received approval for administering medication, residents will have to self-pay a third-party nursing service to dispense their medications.

By the passage of this law, new licenses for Level 4 facilities will not be issued until 2017. The moratorium does not apply to providers who have received facility need review approval from the Department of Health and Hospitals on or before April 25, 2012.

The State of Louisiana defines Level 4 Adult Residential Care as “providing the following services: lodging, meal, medication administration, intermittent nursing service, and assistance with personal hygiene, transfers, ambulation, dressing, housekeeping and laundry.”

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.