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When a resident is hospitalized, the physician can educate hospital staff about the capabilities of the ALC. Physicians through communication can also help assure that residents are being transferred back to an ALC only when it is safe to do so based on a particular ALC being capable to meeting the resident’s needs. Similar to a discharge from hospital to home, additional services from home care agencies and geriatric care or companion services may be necessary to help the resident stay in the ALC.

Care in nursing facilities is highly regulated through both state and federal regulations in order to assure appropriate resident care. This care is provided through an interdisciplinary team that strives to have each resident attain the highest practicable level of well-being. A transition of care often occurs when an older person, living at home, has an acute change in condition that requires that the ­person be admitted to a hospital and then discharged to a nursing facility. During their stay at the nursing facility, it is not uncommon that another acute event occurs that then requires transfer back to the hospital and subsequently back to the nursing facility.

This may be a difficult time for families and, not infrequently, residents may be transferred to the hospital, which in turn then assumes the responsibility of placing the resident at another health care facility. 9 on coding. Of note, the custodial care codes should be used (99324-99326 and 99334-99337), not the home visit codes when practitioners see the resident in the ALC. Assisted Living Care Direct Care Services AL residents generally require initial assessment by a physician prior to move-in, with specifics varying by state.