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New Jersey
A short summary of Assisted Living
New Jersey
What is it called?
· Assisted Living Residence
What services are provided?
· Facility must provide
o Assistance with personal care
o Supervision, assistance, and administration of medications
o Nursing services (including long-term care)
o Health care services as appropriate, and assistance with transportation to these services
o Pharmaceutical services and special diets as ordered by a physician
· Facility may provide
o Care for psychiatric disorders
o Hospice care
Who can be admitted?
· Needs assistance with health care
Who is inappropriate?
· Must be refused admission
o Needs cannot be met by the facility
· Can be evicted
o Specialized long-term care
· The following conditions may be accommodated, dependent upon the admission agreement
o 24-hour nursing supervision
o Inability to get out of bed for more than 14 days
o Consistent and total dependence in four or more activities of daily living
o Severe cognitive decline and inability to respond to cueing and simple directions
o Stage 3 or Stage 4 pressure sores or multiple Stage 2 pressure sores
o Need for assistance with transfer from three or more staff members
o Medically unstable condition and/or special health problems that cannot be appropriately addressed in the environment
What training is required for direct care staff?
· Initial training
o Emergency procedures
o Infection prevention and control
o Care of residents with cognitive and physical impairment and dementia
· Continuing training
o Annual in-service training on the same topics covered in the initial training
Is nurse staffing required?
· At least one registered professional nurse must be on-call or capable of being reached by phone
· All health care services must be directed by a registered professional nurse
o Nurse may delegate limited medication administration duties to a personal care assistant who has completed a medication administration course and examination
Is any public payment available?
· Yes, the Medicaid program may pay for assisted living services through a Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver
More Information
Department of Health
Division of Long Term Care Systems
Development and Quality
(609) 633 – 8993
http://www.state.nj.us/health/ltc/assisliv.shtml
New Jersey Long term Care Ombudsman
(609) 943 – 4026
www.state.nj.us/health/senior/sa_ombd.htm
(06/08) New Jersey Public Advocate investigates Assisted Living Concepts’ eviction of Medicaid residents