Assisted living facilities are appropriate for those individuals who cannot live by themselves and who need some assistance with activities of daily living—such as bathing, toileting, dressing and eating—but do not require the high level of skilled care that a nursing home facility provides.
Assisted living facilities may be referred to by a number of different names, depending on the state in which they are located: adult care homes, congregate care, residential care, and board and care. States also differ in their licensing requirements for assisted living facilities.
In addition to assisting with activities of daily living, facilites may also offer additional services to residents. These services may include transportation, housekeeping, laundry, assistance with medications, and recreational activities.
Assisted living facilities can be expensive, and expenses are not covered by Medicare. It's important that families fully investigate all the costs associated with this type of living arrangement. Some services are offered for additional fees.
For more information on assisted living and how to choose this type of facility, see the fact sheet provided by Eldercare Locator: http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Resources/Fact_Sheets/assisted_living.aspx.
Some additional resources include:
- Medicare — Long-term Care: http://www.medicare.gov/LongTermCare/Static/Home.asp
- Assisted Living Federation of America — Guide to Choosing an Assisted Living Residence: http://www.alfa.org/images/alfa/PDFs/getfile.cfm_product_id=94&file=ALFAchecklist.pdf
