Most people who move into an adult family home do so because everyday tasks have become hard: getting in and out of the shower safely, remembering to eat, managing the bathroom, or simply moving from bed to chair. Personal care is the foundation of what we do at both Silvergate homes, and our Disclosure of Services filed with DSHS spells out exactly what we provide.
Activities of daily living we support
Support ranges from a gentle reminder to complete assistance, and it changes as a resident's needs change.
- Eating: supervision and cueing for residents at risk of choking, texture-modified and special diets, and full assistance when needed
- Bathing and hygiene: supervision through total assistance with showers and bed baths, oral care, shaving, hair care, and nail care (nail care is not provided for residents with diabetes, per nursing guidance)
- Dressing: help choosing clothing and getting dressed, with respect for each person's preferences
- Toileting: reminders, one-person assistance, incontinence care, peri-care, and use of a commode, bedpan, or urinal
- Walking: cueing, standby assistance, and contact assistance with a gait belt, along with encouragement to keep moving
- Transfers: standby, one-person assist, and Hoyer lift transfers; staff are trained on sit-to-stand devices
- Positioning: a two-hour turning schedule for residents at risk of skin breakdown, with skin assessment at every shower
Meals, laundry, and housekeeping
Three home-cooked meals a day and snacks are included, with diets adjusted for diabetes, swallowing difficulty, and personal or cultural preference. Laundry and housekeeping are part of the monthly rate. Residents eat together at the table when they are able, because mealtimes are part of the day, not a task to get through.
Encouraging independence
Our owner's guiding principle is that staff encourage residents to be as independent as possible. That means letting someone button their own shirt even when it takes a while, and offering the right amount of help rather than the fastest amount. Independence protects dignity and, in our experience, health.
Staffing
Silvergate Adult Family Home in Bonney Lake is staffed 24 hours a day, with certified nursing assistants and long-term care workers scheduled whenever the provider is away and an LPN as needed. At Silvergate at Buckley, the registered nurse owner lives in the home. Both homes are licensed for six residents, so no one waits long for help.