Suggested Criteria for Admission

of an Individual with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Disorder to an Assisted Living Facility*

1. Before admission to the facility, a total medical assessment of the individual must be completed. This assessment will include a functional checklist of the resident's activities of daily living (ADLs).
   
2. Healthcare and financial durable power of attorney has been established or a conservator and guardian has been appointed for the individual with dementia. Advance medical directives for the individual are also established.
   
3. Individual's every day function is affected by:
   • Short-term memory loss.
   • Disorientation to time, place and date.
   • An increase in poor/decreased judgment and problems with abstract thinking.
   • Unable to handle personal finances that result in making inappropriate financial decisions.
   • Difficulties communicating his/her immediate needs to the proper individuals. (i.e., family members or caregivers).
   • Inappropriate telephone usage which may include continually calling 911 for emergencies that do not exist.
   • The individual suffers from erratic sleep patterns.
   • The individual is wandering and getting lost.
   • The individual is suffering from sundowning (agitation and nervousness at sundown).
     
4. The individual is demonstrating an inability to properly perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently and assistance is required with more than one (bathing, dressing/grooming, toileting, continence mobility, eating).
   
5. The individual does not have aggressive behaviors or "other" behaviors, which present a risk to the health and safety of the other residents in the facility. The "dementia-capable" facility to which an individual is referred has an appropriately trained staff and environment that can accommodate aggressive behaviors that do not present such risks. (Disruptive behaviors need to be assessed.)
   
6. The individual must be ambulatory. If there is a history of continual falls, this must be noted and the frequency of these falls assessed.
   
7. The individual's medical health is stable and preexisting conditions noted.
   
8. The individual is able to communicate his/her needs to others in an appropriate manner.

Compiled by the Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1999.