The Roles of Care Homes in Hawaii and Care Services (Essay Sample)

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Care Homes in Hawaii
Introduction
Hawaii is a dream location for most retirees looking for retirement communities that are independent and comfortable. The scenery is spectacular, and its living conditions are so desirable for senior living. Moving away from own home is always a challenge to most people. However, the Adult Residential Care Home (ARCH) provides a lot of opportunities making the move possible. The residential care homes are in Hawaii are usually located within residential neighborhoods. Care homes offer personalized services to specific groups of adults. The services provided at care homes include lodging and meal services, and they get assistance with activities that relate to daily lives.
Care homes
Most of the care homes do not have medical professionals within the setting. The medical care provided is usually limited, and it’s on a part-time basis because the primary focus is not on medical care. The residences of care homes are within traditional neighborhoods and homes and the care provided is for fewer patients than in a community where assisted people live. The low number of patients makes the services more personal and creates an environment similar to home living (Anikeeff & Muller 202).
The cost of care homes is in most cases less than the cost of nursing home care and even becomes cheaper than the assisted living care in some states. However, cost variations usually occur depending on location, types of services rendered and the room privacy of the patients (Birkett 43). The services offered in residential care homes are usually fewer than those offered by assisted living communities. These services include comfortable rooms, home cooked meals, management of medication, social activities, housekeeping and laundry and fulfilling appointments with doctors.
Factors to consider when looking for a care home
When considering seeking the services of a care home, it is important to see their licensing by the state, the level of care and the services provided (Goudge 41). This is because the terms used to describe these communities may not be a reflection of the requirements by the state regarding level of care, licensing and the services that they provide.
In Hawaii, most of the care homes are on the beach front, and their orientation is usually outdoor (Karel 112). The care homes or the adult family homes in Hawaii are more than fourteen, and there are local experts or senior living advisors who are compassionate about helping in comparing the services provided and the related costs that help in saving time in finding the right home care within individual financial constraints.
The most important aspect of looking for a good care home is the experience, background, and hospitality of the care givers (Allen 443). Using outside appearance and exterior glamor of the environment is in most cases misleading and should not be relied upon. Some of the factors that need to be put into consideration are the experience of the staff members and the owners, ease of communication, and staff to resident ratio should be within the stipulations of the licensing body. Also, it is important to consider if the care givers live together with the seniors or they work in shifts. The choices made after putting the aforementioned factors into consideration should be based on the care of the needs of the senior residents.
The cleanliness of the facility which is evident through the appearance of the current residents is also an important aspect in the decision-making process. The survey of the care home’s calendar and the treatment during social activities are of significance. Also, it is important to make specific considerations like if pets are allowed, smoking is prohibited and if transport is arranged for the seniors so as to honor appointments with doctors (Smith 127). Besides, it is important to consider meal options offered, whether spending is regulated y staff, security and the monthly rating.
The monthly rating in terms of finances needs to consider how the billing of the care home works, whether they accept medical cards and whether there is long-term care insurance. Before making the final decision, it is important to visit at least five residential care facilities. The visits need to be both announced and un announced at different times of the day to be able to find answers to different questions raised in the process of finding a suitable care home for a loved one.
State Agencies and Care homes
In Hawaii, the adult residential care homes are licensed and regulated by the state department of health office of health care assurance. This body conducts on-site inspections and Medicare certification surveys, and this ensures that all the care homes have developed standards that ensure quality care in hospitals, health agencies, and intermediate facilities. In Hawaii, care providers have special training and experienced work history that ensures that they comply with the requirements of the Medicare section of the Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) (Mollica, Johnson & O'Keeffe 80).
The licensing allows for not more than five senior residents to seek the services of care homes at any given time. This makes it possible for the home like setting of the care homes to provide personalized care. In settings with more senior residents, more staff is always available to cater for their needs and the social interaction opportunities are also enhanced. The costs associated with the services of the care homes in Hawaii depend on the care needs and the geographical location. The general costs associated with such services in Hawaii range from between $1200 to $6500. The variation in costs depends on the size, location and specific needs of the senior residents.
There are different levels of care within each category of a licensed Adult Residential Care Home. An expanded one is licensed to provide the level of care limited to the number of senior patients. The licensed capacity is what determines the number of residents that any given Adult Residential Care Home is permitted to care for. This implies that in a care home licensed for five senior residents, any number below its licensed capacity is considered expanded care. Other than the licensing considerations, when looking for a care home in Hawaii, it is important to do thorough research on the potential care home residence. The licensing regulation is also a good source of information because they provide surveys on each of the care homes.
The state law of Hawaii currently states that any individual who is operating without a valid license from the State Department of Health can be subjected to penalties or imprisonment, and they are advised to stop the provision of such services. The process involves the acquisition of an approved certificate of need from the State Health Planning and Development Agency. The response from the agency is...