High-acuity care in assisted living is designed for seniors who require more intensive health and personal care, whether from advanced conditions or a recent hospital visit.
At Kensington Park, we specialize in providing high-acuity care for residents with varying needs to offer personalized, comprehensive support to those who need it most.
If you are considering moving your loved one, parent, or spouse into assisted living, but are concerned about their growing health care needs, continue reading to learn how Kensington Park can accommodate your loved one’s health care needs.
Our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
What is high acuity care in senior living?
High acuity care is the most intensive level of care for residents who have severe or complex health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, ALS, or who have recently had intensive surgery.
Residents who require high-acuity care typically require constant monitoring, specialized medical treatments, and comprehensive support with their daily activities.
This type of care is specifically for residents who have needs that go beyond routine assistance, such as people with advanced stages of chronic illnesses, serious neurological conditions, or who are recovering from major surgeries.
For example, a person in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s requires a higher level of full-time care, whereas a person who recently had hip surgery will require high-acuity care for several weeks.
Research has shown that the implementation of high acuity units in hospitals, for example, is associated with improved patient outcomes, including reduced in-hospital mortality and shorter stays in both the ICU and the hospital overall.
How to assess a senior resident’s acuity
In assisted living communities such as Kensington Park, accessing a senior’s acuity, or level of needed care, starts with how well they can handle everyday activities called Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
ADLs include things such as eating, bathing, and getting dressed.
Health check
When a resident first arrives in our community, as well as periodically after, they will get a health check. This check will examine their medical history and current health status.
Daily tasks checklist (ADLs)
- Eating: Can they feed themselves?
- Bathing: Can they bathe themselves?
- Dressing: Can they choose and wear their clothes?
- Toileting: Can they use the bathroom on their own?
- Moving around (ambulating): Can they get in and out of bed or a chair by themselves?
- Controlling bladder/bowels: Can they manage this without help?
Making a care plan
Based on these checks, a personal care plan is then made. This care plan is coordinated by licensed nurses and our care partners, offering 24/7 on-site care.
What are the different acuity levels in assisted living?
There are three levels of acuity care: low, medium, and high. Each level corresponds to the degree of care and support a resident requires.
Low acuity level (minimal assistance)
At this level, residents are mostly independent. They may need help with a few tasks such as medication management or transportation to doctors’ visits.
For example, a resident at this level can handle personal grooming and dressing but needs reminders to take their medication.
Medium acuity level (moderate assistance)
Residents at a medium acuity level will need more regular help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, or more frequent medication management.
For example, a resident who requires help getting dressed and keeping track of several medications a day will be at a moderate assistance level.
High acuity level (extensive assistance)
This is the highest level of specialized care available in senior living communities.
It’s for residents with significant health care needs requiring constant care, often caused by neurological or memory loss conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease.
For these people, high-acuity care is a long-term health care solution; however, short-term high-acuity care is available for residents who need extensive rehabilitation after major surgery.
For example, a resident with advanced Alzheimer’s or dementia will need help with most of their ADLs and will need closer supervision in a specialized memory care community.
What types of specialized care are offered in high-acuity situations?
In high-acuity health care settings, a range of specialized care and therapies are offered to benefit people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological disorders, as well as those who are paralyzed or have suffered strokes.
At Kensington Park, our 24/7 care with licensed nursing staff and care partners, with a high staffing ratio, offer a higher standard of care to support residents.
Physical therapy
On-site rehabilitation is offered for all residents, including those with more severe mobility issues, such as those recovering from strokes or living with Parkinson’s disease.
Physical therapy improves strength, balance, and mobility. For instance, residents with Parkinson’s disease can work on exercises to maintain movement, flexibility, and posture.
Occupational therapy
Focuses on helping residents with daily activities that use their arms and hands, such as dressing, eating, and bathing.
Beneficial for those who have limited motor skill impairments caused by strokes or neurological diseases.
For example, a resident who’s partially paralyzed from a stroke might learn new ways to dress using adaptive equipment.
Speech therapy
Essential for residents with communication challenges, often due to strokes or neurological conditions.
Speech therapy improves clarity and swallowing issues.
For example, a resident with a speech impairment post-stroke can regain communication skills through speech therapy exercises.
Memory care therapy
Memory care is designed for residents with memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Memory care therapy activities are designed to stimulate memory and cognitive function.
For example, a resident with dementia might play memory-enhancing games or storytelling sessions.
Our creative arts therapies for cognitive impairment include music therapy with a team of licensed music therapists, as well as brain exercises with BCAT certified team members.
Special equipment and support
For residents with more limited mobility, our higher level of staffing allows for the use of Hoyer lifts and two person transfers.
Additionally, more specialized equipment can include feeding tubes, IVs and catheters, wound care, insulin injections, and specialized diets.
Our team members are also equipped with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC) methods, which allows for a dignified and personable approach to caring for those with memory loss in an upmost compassionate environment.
Kensington Park’s commitment to high-acuity care
As you explore options for an assisted living community for your loved one, you will find that Kensington Park is the standout choice, especially for those requiring a higher level of care.
Our community is designed to be a long-term home where residents can “age in place,” adapting seamlessly to their changing health care needs, without ever needing to relocate.
Kensington Park offers a comprehensive range of care levels, from basic assistance to high-acuity care, ensuring your loved one’s needs are met now and in the future.
With our independent living, assisted living, and three memory care neighborhoods, we offer continuity of care, comfort, and comprehensive care for all of our residents, regardless of their different acuity levels.
We invite you to contact us to book a tour of our community and learn more about how we can be the long-term home for your loved one, ensuring their age with grace and dignity.