| |
Mountain View Center |
Skilled Nursing Facility |
Retirement Center |
Average Cost
|
$85-140 per day, custodial care is included |
$200-260
per day, nursing care is included |
$90-150
per day, care costs increase as care needs
increase |
| Environment |
Luxurious
residential setting, specifically designed
for Alzheimer’s patients |
Hospital or institutional environment |
Large, independent community that may be confusing for Alzheimer’s patients |
| Safety |
Maximum freedom, indoors and outdoors, in a secured, restraint free environment (locked outside perimeters) |
Minimum freedom, restraints may be used (physical or chemical) |
Maximum freedom, may not be safe for wanderers, generally not secured or monitored |
| Compatibility |
Alzheimer’s patients are accommodated with similar stage patients, easy to find friends, enjoy companionship |
Alzheimer’s patients mixed with elderly who need more medical care or advanced stage Alzheimer’s patients |
Alzheimer’s patients mixed with elderly who are alert and do not understand the behavior of Alzheimer’s patients |
Staff Experience
|
All caregivers are trained to deal with difficult behavior through techniques and supervision |
All
caregivers may or may not understand how
to deal with Alzheimer’s behavior |
All caregivers may or may not understand how to deal with
Alzheimer’s behavior |
| Employee Ratio |
7:1
One direct caregiver to seven residents |
13:1
Usually one caregiver to 10-13 residents |
22:1
Usually one caregiver to 20-30 residents |
| Activities |
Creative and stimulating activities are designed for residents at various functional levels to reduce confusion and anxiety |
Activity program may be geared towards advanced stage Alzheimer’s patients or alert patients |
Activities are geared to the more independent residents, not ideal for Alzheimer’s patients |
Psychotropic
Medication |
Most
of our residents do not use
psychotropic medication because of the
small, secured, homelike environment
and staff training |
Psychotropic medication is widely used |
Alzheimer’s patients with difficult behavior are usually prescribed more medication |
| Standard Services |
3 balanced meals with snacks catered to personal preferences, laundry service also included |
3 balanced meals, laundry service at an extra charge |
3 balanced meals, laundry service usually included |
| Specialized Family Support |
Audio and video library,
Educational seminars, and
Support group meetings |
Normally not available |
Normally not available |
