RESUMO
PURPOSE: To describe what an assisted living facility (ALF) is who resides in ALFs, and the benefits of nurse practitioner (NP) practice in an ALF for the client, facility, NP, and practice. DATA SOURCES: Selected scientific literature, legal and regulatory guidelines, consumer information and guidelines, Internet sites, and the authors' experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Assisted living facilities are nonmedical residential settings grounded in a philosophy of providing residents with choice, autonomy, privacy, independence, dignity, and respect in a housing environment as homelike as possible. Nationally, ALFs vary considerably by size, services provided, and regulations imposed by states. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Assisted living facilities are now a popular choice for individuals who desire assistance with selected activities of daily living (ADL) while maintaining maximum independence. They are becoming an excellent site for the provision of in-home primary care in order to facilitate aging in place.
Assuntos
Habitação para Idosos , Profissionais de Enfermagem/organização & administração , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Acreditação/organização & administração , Idoso , Enfermagem Geriátrica/organização & administração , Habitação para Idosos/normas , Humanos , Papel do Profissional de Enfermagem , Pesquisa em Avaliação de Enfermagem , Satisfação do Paciente , Autonomia Profissional , Estados Unidos , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
PURPOSE: To describe the practical issues associated with setting up a nurse practitioner (NP) practice in an assisted living facility (ALF), including record keeping, maintaining communication, and scheduling and coordination issues. DATA SOURCES: Selected scientific literature, legal and regulatory guidelines, and the authors' experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating a NP practice in an ALF can be a rewarding experience, but it will not be without its own unique challenges. Procedures that maintain excellent communication between the NP, the home practice site, the resident and family, the ALF facility, and other services required by the needs of the resident take time and effort to establish but are worth the extra effort. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurse practitioners who establish a practice in an ALF need to be familiar with state regulations, facility procedures and culture, and the needs of elders who are aging in place and integrate all that into their office practice sites in order to be successful.
