Assisted Living Vs. Personal Care
What’s the difference between assisted living residences and personal care facilities in PA?
For many years in Pennsylvania, there really was no difference between Assisted Living and Personal Care. They were essentially synonymous, interchangeable terms. However, most facilities referred to themselves as “assisted living” rather than a “personal care home” because it sounded more pleasant and inviting. But if you asked to see their provider license issued by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), every single provider in PA would have handed you a piece of paper that clearly stated they were a Personal Care Home.
That all changed in January 2011. That’s when the Pennsylvania DPW Office of Long-Term Living began to license Assisted Living Residences (ALR) separately from Personal Care Homes (PCH). However, many consumers—and even healthcare professionals—aren’t aware of or don’t fully understand the difference. And because the differences are not very discernible, it is quite confusing to many people.
To learn more about the Personal Care services at Messiah Lifeways, contact us or call us at 717.790.8201 to learn more about Enhanced Living Personal Care at Messiah Village. Our caring, supportive staff would be happy to discuss our services further!
What’s the difference between Assisted Living and Personal Care in PA? Listen to our Coach’s Corner podcast to hear our Messiah Lifeways Coach explain!
So Why the Change?
In 2007, Senate Bill 704 was signed, and it defined and established Assisted Living as a separate form of long-term care in Pennsylvania. But why? First, the state felt it needed to do a better job of balancing the public funding of institutional care with home and community programs for older Pennsylvanians. Second, the philosophy of more choice was essential. According to an AARP study, “95% of older Pennsylvanians preferred alternatives to nursing home placements,” and “another option was needed for many individuals who couldn’t live at home anymore, but didn’t require round-the-clock nursing care.” The study also said that national research showed “Assisted Living facilities would cost between one-half and two-thirds of the cost of daily skilled nursing care.” The bill was to be a starting point to help shift Medicaid (medical assistance) dollars to Assisted Living and away from nursing homes and, therefore, reduce the reliance on the much more expensive alternative.
Essentially, assisted living was created to bridge the gap in care between Personal Care Homes and skilled nursing homes, but at a lower cost than nursing homes and in a setting that could allow residents to “age in place” for a longer period of time.
Specific Differences
Assisted Living Residences are licensed under 55 PA. Code, Chapter 2800 by the Office of Long-Term Living. Though they do provide similar care to Personal Care Homes, they also have the capability to care for people who require heavier care for a longer period of time. Personal Care Homes’ regulations maintain certain limitations on the care and setting that they can provide.
According to the Office of Long-Term Living, Assisted Living Residences are different from Personal Care Homes in 3 ways: concept, construction, and level of care. The concept focuses on allowing a resident to “age in place” for a longer period of time before having to move to a nursing facility when their needs increase. ALR construction would require larger units, private bathrooms, and the “capacity” for kitchen facilities. This model would allow for more privacy and maximum independence. Regarding level of care, it would provide more assistance for a resident whose needs become too great for a Personal Care Home. Two examples of a Personal Care Home resident needing to move to a nursing facility could include the following: if the resident requires multiple caregivers to transfer them from their bed to the toilet, or if another resident needed help emptying their catheter. However, if those two people lived in an Assisted Living Residence, they could remain there because of the required higher staffing ratios and specialized training for needs such as catheter care.
Truthfully, many larger Personal Care Homes do meet some of the ALR requirements, particularly in the area of construction, but also in the concept of aging in place. This is achievable by the resident hiring supplemental care to assist them during the day, along with adaptive equipment or modifications to their rooms.
The Current Outlook
The introduction of Assisted Living Residences in PA as a cheaper alternative to nursing homes that will allow seniors to delay or avoid a move to a nursing facility, in essence, is great. However, the reality is a little less prosperous, at least presently. In Pennsylvania, there are currently only 33 licensed Assisted Living Residences spanning just 19 counties as compared to 1,221 Personal Care Homes in just about every county.
Why such a low number after so long? Even though it’s been over a decade since the legislation was enacted, it’s still relatively early. For Personal Care Homes, the consideration to make the change to an Assisted Living Residence—or even offer both on one campus—is not an overnight decision. Many communities would have to make structural changes to their buildings, enlarge apartments, add staff, provide additional training, plus put forth a major marketing and promotions effort. All of this, of course, costs money and takes time to make it happen. Also, the prospect of reimbursement through Medicaid is just is not there due to a lack of state funding. And there is still hesitation by some providers to wait and see how those that have obtained their Assisted Living Residences license fare in the market and perform under the new regulations.
Time will tell whether the growth and viability of the Assisted Living Residences will work in congruence with Personal Care Homes and nursing homes in Pennsylvania. As for Messiah Lifeways at Messiah Village, our Enhanced Living has always been, and continues to be, licensed as a Personal Care Home. While the potential of switching to—or adding—an Assisted Living Residence license has been discussed, Messiah Lifeways has no plans to make a change at this time.
For more information on this topic, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website: https://dhs.pa.gov/
For more details on Assisted Living versus Personal Care in PA, listen to the Coach’s Corner podcast, to get all the details you need on Assisted Living Facilities and Personal Care Facilities. And if you’re asking yourself, “What is a personal care home?”, visit our blog to see what services personal care facilities typically include.