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Assisted living is a broad term that describes a wide range of facilities and services. They can be small group home type of settings, or larger homes with several hundred residents. In general, the services provided often include meals, housekeeping, transportation, shopping, laundry, help with medications and activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing. Some homes do have units for persons with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. In general, assisted living facilities can not provide extensive medical care, and families of persons with dementia will want to consider that they may need to move their loved one to a facility with a higher level of care as the disease progresses. There are differences in the regulation of assisted living facilities in each state. These are the government agencies that are responsible for inspecting and licensing assisted living facilities in the National Capital Area.
MarylandThe State of Maryland does license all assisted living facilities of any size (as small as one bed). The web site below does have listings of all of the facilities that have applied for a license. Licensure is based on level of care - low, moderate or high.
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Maryland Health Care Commission
VirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia does not regulate homes of three individuals or less.
Virginia Department of Social Services, Licensing Division
Fairfax Area Licensing Office
Northern Region
Verona Area
District of ColumbiaThe District of Columbia does not yet have a separate license for assisted living, however the Department of Health does license community residence facilities. A list of these facilities is on the web site listed below. This is the definition of a Community Residence Facility provided there:
A community residence facility provides a level of health care in a safe, hygienic protective/sheltered living arrangement for one or more individuals who are not related by blood or marriage to the Residence Director. These individuals are ambulatory with or without the assistance of mechanical devices(s), able to get in and out of bed, and able to move about. They are oriented to place, time and day, capable of making proper judgments in emergency situations, and able to perform the activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and walking) independently or with minimal assistance. This level of care is for individuals who desire or require supervision or assistance within a protected environment because of physical, mental, familial or social circumstances.
Department of Health
In the National Capital Area chapter service territory, for more information about Licensure for Assisted Living Facilities, please contact the Chapter's telephone Helpline at 703-359-4440 or toll-free 1-800-272-3900. Outside the National Capital Area, please contact your local Chapter.Subscribe to our E-Newsletter! © 1997 - 2005 Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area. All rights reserved. |
