FAQ

A SCALF is a Specialty Care Assisted Living Facility. In Alabama, a SCALF is a facility with staff that has additional training in Alzheimer's and dementia. The facility is designed to provide safety and enhance independence to accommodate the person with dementia.

An assisted living facility is not the same as a specialty care assisted living facility. There are additional requirements to meet that are required through the state of Alabama Department of Public Health and the Assisted Living Association. Not all assisted living facilities are designed for the additional needs of the person with dementia and cannot always provide care for such resident.

Yes our SCALF is licensed through the Alabama Department of Health.

Eligibility requirements include obtaining a medical History, a mental health screening exam, a depression scale, physical functioning screen, behavior screen, and must include a physicians order. The referral must be free from communicable disease and at the time, will require a negative COVID screen.

Answer here about what the protocol is during this unprecedented time.

Our residents are encouraged to bring some personal furniture to make their apartment more home like (space permitting). Seasonal comfortable clothes, important pictures and personal items are encouraged. Families need to observe the space available in each apartment to determine which personal items will most benefit their parents. We want everyone to be comfortable in their new environment!

Any emergency situation will warrant a phone call to the sponsor ASAP, the family’s choice of personal physician, and assessment by a nurse. If deemed necessary, staff will call 911 to have resident transported to the emergency department of choice (as determined on admission).

Pets are welcome to visit their humans as long as the pet has records from their vet reporting updates vaccines. Pets may not remain overnight. This record must be updated and will remain with the residents chart. The pet must not be left alone to wander the facility as he/she can present a fall risk. We recognize that pets are important members of our families.

We have planned activities for our residents designed to keep their mind and body active as long as possible. Our activities are designed for each residents individual ability and interests. We have planned activities, movies, crafts and other recreation available. Social outings will resume as soon as the Covid restrictions are lifted. We believe it’s important to get out of the facility occasionally and enjoy a ride through the mountains, a day of fishing, local shopping, and other planned trips for the residents enjoyment.

It's time for alzheimers/dementia care when the person with dementia (PWD) reaches the middle stages of dementia. Signs would include confusing day and night, wandering or becoming lost, problems sleeping or eating, delusions or hallucinations (both can be symptoms of certain types of dementia), increased agitation, if they're unable to recall their name or address, when the caregivers stress becomes more than they feel they can take, when the caregiver can no longer take care of their own health care needs, or no one else can or will help the caregivers because caring for someone with dementia is a 24/7 job. There are many more symptoms of middle stage dementia and middle stage dementia symptoms are very fluid and may be confused with some early or late stage symptoms.

You may utilize private payment or Alabama Nursing Home Medicaid if your loved on qualifies. If you have a long term care insurance policy we can check to see if this meets your criteria. Contact us today to have our financial specialist guide you through this process.

Keeping people with dementia engaged will depend on their interests and activities before their disease.

Did they enjoy walking, baking, sewing, painting, crafts? We engage the person with dementia in activities they enjoyed in their earlier life but usually have to modify the activities to meet their current abilities. If for example they enjoyed painting, we could encourage them to paint a simple design and assist as needed. We want the person to be as independent as possible as long as possible so we try to encourage what they enjoy doing and make sure they feel successful.

Activities should be fun, and failure free. There are no right or wrong ways to fold towels, sort buttons, or roll silverware.

The activities should be adult themed. For instance, if they enjoy putting puzzles together, make sure the puzzle is not a child like scene. Ensure there is no pressure to finish the puzzle in a certain timeframe.

If they enjoyed music, be sure to choose music from their era. Encourage them to dance (doesn't matter if they are ballroom experts), just enjoy the music and movement. In the case of wheelchair users, usually they can still move their arms and legs. Add in props like top hats, bells, or feather boas and allow everyone to enjoy!

The purpose of activities is to help the person with dementia to feel successful and productive. Activities are designed to reduce agitation, anxiety and boredom.

Each person is designed activities to meet their person centered care.