What is a level of care assessment?
A level of care assessment is a nursing evaluation performed before admission or annually to measure a resident's functional abilities and determine which care tier and corresponding pricing level they require at an assisted living facility.
Assisted living facilities in Greater Hartford use level of care assessments to evaluate prospective and current residents' functional status. These evaluations typically measure mobility, activities of daily living (ADL) independence, cognitive ability, and medical complexity. A nurse or care coordinator conducts the assessment through a combination of health history review, physical observation, and standardized screening tools.
The assessment results place residents into care tiers, which determine their monthly service costs and the intensity of staff support they receive. A resident requiring minimal assistance with bathing and medications, for example, may qualify for a basic care tier. Someone with advanced dementia or significant mobility limitations might require a higher-tier service package with more frequent aide visits and nursing oversight.
Facilities typically reassess residents annually or when there is a significant change in condition. This ensures that as residents' needs evolve, they receive appropriate support and are not overpaying for services they no longer need or underpaying for care they now require. The assessment protects both residents and facilities by matching service delivery to actual dependency levels and establishing transparent pricing from the start.