Your Guide to Care

Levels of Care in Assisted Living: Your Guide

For families in New Orleans navigating the question of senior care, one of the first things to understand is that Assisted Living is not a one-size-fits-all experience. The right level of support depends on where an elder is today and what they need to feel safe and comfortable.

At Poydras Home, a trusted New Orleans Continuing Care Retirement Community caring for New Orleanians since 1817, that philosophy shapes everything we do. Oak House Assisted Living at Poydras Home offers three levels of care along with Assisted Living Memory Care. Poydras Home’s healthcare team works with families to make sure every elder receives the right support at the right time.

What Are Levels of Care in Assisted Living?

Levels of care in Assisted Living are a way of matching the services and support an elder receives to their needs. Rather than offering a flat menu of care for everyone, Assisted Living communities structure their services so that elders receive appropriate help.

Support at the Assisted Living level may include help with Activities of Daily Living, mobility, medication reminders or medication management, meals, and housekeeping. The goal is to preserve independence and dignity while ensuring each elder has the right safety net around them.

It’s worth noting that Poydras Home’s healthcare team will evaluate each elder’s needs and determine the most appropriate level of care. That determination is made thoughtfully, with the elder’s well-being and comfort as the guiding priority.

Assisted Living Care Levels at Poydras Home

Oak House Assisted Living at Poydras Home offers three Assisted Living levels of care: Classic, Plus, and Platinum. Each level builds on the one before it, adding services and support as needs increase.

• Classic provides the foundational services and amenities of Assisted Living, including housekeeping, dining, and access to enrichment activities.
• Plus includes all Classic services, along with up to two Activity of Daily Living supports such as dressing, grooming, continence care, or standby or hands-on showering.
• Platinum includes all Classic services, along with assistance with up to three Activities of Daily Living.

Classic Level of Care: Foundational Assisted Living Support

Classic is the starting point for Assisted Living at Poydras Home. It is designed for elders who benefit from social opportunities, a structured daily routine, reminders, and access to support while still maintaining a meaningful degree of independence.

Classic may be appropriate for elders who are largely independent in their personal care but want the reassurance of support being available when needed, help keeping their home tidy, a welcoming dining experience, and access to engaging activities.

Included services and amenities at the Classic level:

• Weekly housekeeping and linen service
• Personal laundry services (for a fee)
• Daily bed making
• Daily trash removal
• Kitchenette provided in apartment
• Restaurant-style dining room with meal reminders
• Nutrition monitoring by dietitian
• Weekly convenience outing to grocery store, pharmacy, and bank
• Cable and WiFi available
• Around-the-clock availability of licensed nurses and Resident Care Assistants
• Medication reminders or fee-based medication management
• Emergency call pendant and pulls in bedroom and bathroom
• Access to Life Enrichment activities with schedule reminders
• Access to the Center for Healthy Living fitness center, salon, and library

Together, these services provide a warm, supportive environment where elders can live comfortably, stay connected, and have help close at hand whenever they need it.

Plus Level of Care: Added Support with Daily Activities

Plus Care includes all of the care and amenities available at the Classic level, with additional hands-on support.

For families wondering when “a little extra help” becomes a more structured care arrangement, the Plus level is designed to answer that question. It recognizes that many elders reach a point where they need reliable assistance with movement and personal care tasks- but still thrive in an Assisted Living setting.

Poydras Home’s healthcare team evaluates each elder’s support needs and determines when the Plus level is the right fit.

Added services at the Plus level:

• One-person-assist mobility support
• Personal laundry services (included)
• Assistance with up to two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

What Are Activities of Daily Living?

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are everyday personal care tasks, such as dressing, grooming, continence care and showering. When an elder needs consistent help with one or more of these tasks, that need is a key factor in determining the appropriate level of Assisted Living care.

Platinum Level of Care: More Advanced Assisted Living Support

Platinum Care includes all of the care and amenities available at the Plus Care level, with the most comprehensive Assisted Living support Poydras Home offers.

This level is designed to support elders who need more consistent, hands-on help with daily personal care. It is a higher-support Assisted Living option and is intended for elders who desire to age in place within the Assisted Living setting.

Added services at the Platinum Care level include:

• One-person-assist mobility support
• Assistance with up to three Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Poydras Home’s healthcare team can help families understand when Assisted Living support remains appropriate and when another care setting may need to be considered. That guidance is offered with care and clarity, so families never feel alone in navigating next steps.

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Assisted Living vs. Memory Care Assisted Living

For elders living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, Poydras Home offers a separate, specialized care option: Memory Care Assisted Living, located in Seasons or Egret House.

Memory Care Assisted Living is a distinct level of care, not simply a higher tier of traditional Assisted Living. It is designed around the specific needs of elders with memory-related conditions, with an environment and caregiver-to-resident ratio built to provide safety, structure, and meaningful daily engagement.

Memory Care Assisted Living at Poydras Home includes:

• Specialized unit with secure indoor and outdoor spaces
• Specialized group activities and outings with optimum caregiver-to-resident ratio
• Cueing throughout all daily transitions
• In-home, restaurant-style dining
• Assistance with up to three Activities of Daily Living
• Personal laundry services
• Mandatory fee-based medication management
• One-person-assist mobility support
• Continence care

How Assisted Living Levels of Care May Change Over Time

Care needs don’t always follow a predictable path. An elder’s needs may shift gradually as part of the natural aging process, or more quickly following a health event, a change in mobility, or a change in daily routines.

The levels of care at Poydras Home are designed to reflect where an elder is right now, and to adapt as that changes. Poydras Home’s healthcare team evaluates each resident’s needs and determines the appropriate level of support on an ongoing basis. This ensures that elders are never under-supported, and that families always have a clear picture of the care their loved one is receiving.

Inquire About Assisted Living at Poydras Home

If your family is beginning to compare Assisted Living care levels, Poydras Home can help you understand what support may be appropriate for your loved one. Our team is here to answer questions.

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