NCALA
NCALA

The North Carolina Assisted Living Association is a non-profit trade association devoted to promoting the establishment and operation of quality assisted living communities in North Carolina. Our more than 180 member communities provide appropriate, supportive housing and services for individuals with compromised health and safety needs and with varied income levels. NCALA members serve more than 14,000 residents, 4500 of whom are low-income and who receive state assistance. Please read below NCALA’s Mission and “Five Things You Should Know About NCALA.”

Established in 1994 as the state affiliate of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), NCALA provides information, advocacy, and support to the assisted living industry. One of the NCALA’s most important goals is to promote creative solutions for affordable assisted living services to low- and moderate-income consumers.

Tenets that are common to NCALA members are:

* Communities serve seniors and frail elderly individuals.
* Cost-effective care that is personalized for individual needs that promotes independence, dignity, and respect for residents.
* Programming and care that involves family and friends, as appropriate.
* Provides a safe, residential environment that interacts with, and is a part of, the surrounding community.

NCALA’s Mission

* To support social and residential models that provide alternative care options to elders or others who need assisted living services.
* To educate consumers, regulators, legislators, and the general public about assisted living.
* To serve the needs of the consumer and industry with regard to assisted living.
* To advocate for outcome-oriented quality standards in the assisted living industry.

Five Things You Should Know About NCALA

1. NCALA provides “find a community” services to families who seek high-quality assisted living communities that address their needs and budget.
2. NCALA is the largest provider of state-approved assisted living administrator training and continuing education for all staff.
3. NCALA is regularly consulted by NC state regulators and legislators to provide expert advice and insight into policy development that affects seniors and their families.
4. In 2000, NCALA supported efforts to create Special Care Units for seniors who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
5. It took more than five years, but NCALA successfully lobbied to gain state funding for low-income seniors to stay in Special Care Units.

More Information

For more information about NCALA and assisted living in North Carolina, follow the links below:

* NCALA Board of Directors
* Committee Members
* NCALA Staff
* NCALA Office Location and Driving Directions/Maps

* See also: More About Assisted Living
* See also: Assisted Living in North Carolina
* See also: Who is a Member of NCALA?
* See also: NCALA Membership Eligibility Requirements
* See also: NCALA Membership Application Forms

Assisted Living in North Carolina

Assisted living in North Carolina is defined as a special combination of housing, supportive services, personalized assistance, and health care designed to respond to the individual needs of those who need help with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Supportive services are available 24 hours per day, to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs in a way that promotes maximum dignity and independence for each resident.

There are two types of assisted living in North Carolina: Multi-Unit Assisted Housing With Services (MAHS) and Adult Care Homes, as well as two types of available reimbursement of assisted living expenses.

* See also: More About Assisted Living

Multi-unit Assisted Housing with Services (MAHS) top

* Unlicensed facilities-often referred to as “independent retirement housing”
* Services arranged by housing management
* Cannot provide 24-hour supervision
* Registration required through the Division of Facility Services
* Disclosure statement required as part of rental contract

Adult Care Homes top

* Licensed by the state statutory authority G.S. 131D-2
* County monitoring
* NC Original Licensure Law in 1945 for residential care
* Newer assisted living homes are no longer the one size fits all approach to providing care

Reimbursement top

* State County Special Assistance
* Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS)




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