FYI: When it comes to senior housing options, there are alternatives to assisted living that are worth looking into.
Assisted living is a long-term senior care option for people who need help with activities of daily living but don’t need a skilled nurse around the clock. These communities aim to balance a resident’s independence with personal care assistance, simple health services, 24-hour security, and group leisure activities. These communities also offer accommodations such as housekeeping, laundry, and meals.
Commonly seen as an alternative to nursing homes, assisted living communities are actually a completely different type of living environment. For those who don’t need the 24/7 medical attention of nursing homes, assisted living communities provide care, community, and much-needed safety.
Whether you are researching the best assisted living communities for yourself or a loved one, navigating your options can be a daunting task. To help, I created this guide. Here you will find an overview of assisted living: how it works, what is provided, and how to find the best home for your needs.
FYI: When it comes to senior housing options, there are alternatives to assisted living that are worth looking into.
Assisted living facilities come in many different forms. Some cater to specific cultural groups; however, the majority of facilities have a sliding scale of care offered.
The goal of assisted living is for residents to maintain as much independence as possible while getting help in the areas they need it. For example, one of my former caregiving clients was struggling to stay healthy because it was difficult for him to continue cooking nutritious meals. He also missed interacting with people in his day-to-day life. Ultimately, he chose an assisted living facility with prepared meals and a shared dining space, which allowed him to eat and mingle with others.
If you need help managing medications and struggle to bathe — but function well otherwise — an assisted living facility would allow you to live quite normally. You’d simply add a couple of interactions to your week: someone who comes by to remind you to take your medications, and someone else who helps you bathe.
You or you loved one qualifies for assisted living if they meet the following criteria:
According to the AARP, the average length of stay in an assisted living facility is about 2 1/2 to three years. The most common reasons for leaving an assisted living community are declining health and the need for a higher level of care.
You’ll often see a few levels of care offered at assisted living residences, and those with more care needs typically charge a higher monthly rate. Although services and amenities are different and based on each facility, below is a list of the most common services:
While assisted living communities do not provide medical care — as do nursing homes — they will certainly help residents who need assistance using the bathroom. This includes both bathing and toileting.
While some facilities charge extra for different types of meal services, most communities will include three cooked meals per day as part of your base price.
Pro Tip: Remember to always ask communities you’re interested in for their specific list of available services. These will also help make it easier to compare communities side by side when it comes time to make a decision.
In the United States, there are approximately 30,000 assisted living communities with nearly one million licensed beds. While the average number of licensed beds per assisted living community is 33, many communities include more than 100 beds.
In any given assisted living community, you may find private studio, one-bedroom, and dorm-style apartments. Most often, these single-unit spaces include private restrooms and a small area for cooking or food storage. You can even find locations that include full-sized kitchens. Sometimes these home-like residences come fully furnished. Others are unfurnished, allowing you to make your space your own.
Since most assisted living communities have a variety of room sizes, couples are generally welcome to move in together. In my experience, when spouses transition together to this type of community, they find the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable.
Most assisted living communities allow residents to have pets. Just like any apartment building, however, there are likely rules regarding pet ownership. Exotic animals such as reptiles and birds might not be allowed, and dogs of a certain breed or size might be restricted. Be sure to ask the facility about their specific rules regarding pets, and also check if they charge additional pet rent.
Unlike pets, which are allowed almost universally, the rules regarding alcohol in assisted living vary widely. Some communities offer alcohol with meals, whereas others only allow residents to consume it with written approval from a doctor. If alcohol consumption is a regular part of your life, be sure to ask a representative from a prospective community about their drinking policies.
Although your loved one may receive some help from on-site staff with bathing or medications, life at an assisted living center is much different than living in a nursing home. Still, I find that people are often unaware of the differences in these senior housing options. Here are some of the main differences:
Whether you’re an older adult or a loved one, choosing to move from the comfort of your home to an assisted living facility is not a decision that’s made lightly. Still, if aging in place is not an option, most people would prefer to live in an assisted living facility, due to the increased levels of independence. The list below will provide you with an idea of whether or not assisted living might be right for you or your loved one.
It’s always best to have a conversation about assisted living before your loved one needs to move. Facilities often have wait-lists, so if you wait until there’s a crisis, such as a fall or other health emergency, your options will likely be more limited.
If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you should set aside some time to discuss assisted living with your loved one.
Once you decide to move a loved one into assisted living, your next task is to find your ideal community. Just like searching for a home or apartment, this process can feel quite overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. One way I plan is by making a list. Try this list I use to help my caregiving clients find assisted living facilities.
Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few facilities of interest, visit them — ideally more than once. Don’t be afraid to show up without a scheduled visit. While you’re there, make sure to interview current residents about the best aspects of assisted living and ask the staff the following questions:
Pro Tip: During your move, make sure you keep any critical medication on your person so it doesn’t get lost.
Once your loved one arrives at their new home, a facility representative will greet you and show you around. If you haven’t already received a Resident’s Bill of Rights and a copy of your contract, make sure you get them now.
Assisted living serves the needs of older adults only to a certain extent. At some point, depending on the individual’s needs and the capabilities and rules of the assisted living community, certain individuals may need a higher level of care than the facility can provide.
Suppose the assisted living community has not required a move. In that case, you may also decide it’s time for your loved one to move from assisted living to a nursing facility, memory care community, or smaller adult care home for a number of reasons. Memory care may be more appropriate if your loved one is struggling with a form of dementia, wandering, or exit-seeking. Nursing homes often have on-site physicians who can be more attentive to your loved one’s complex medical needs.
One of the best parts of assisted living is the relative amount of freedoms entailed. In most facilities, residents may come and go as often as they please, provided the resident is healthy enough to travel, and they have a loved one to give advance notice to the facility and provide proper support.
Assisted living facilities can legally evict a resident, even if that person is suffering from a debilitating illness and is unable to properly care for themselves. While nursing homes must abide by certain laws that restrict evictions, assisted living policies are set on a state-by-state basis.
Generally, a facility can kick out a resident if they feel the needs of said resident exceed what can be provided by the facility. In my experience, I have seen residents evicted due to worsening Alzheimer’s that makes residents difficult to keep safe.
It’s certainly a lifestyle change and often costly, but for older adults who are somewhat independent with just a handful of extra care needs, assisted living may just be the best solution. I’m not a huge fan of the price tag. However, it’s well worth considering, given the funding and finance options we discussed, and the expanse of possibilities available for older adults, such as fitness classes and social events. Plus, I’ve witnessed a significant reduction in stress in both older adults and caregivers when undertaking such a move. Thereby, I’m convinced assisted living is worth a second look for families trying to decide on their next best step.
To learn more about assisted living, read our guide to assisted living costs.
Additionally, be sure to check out our guides to different types of communities:
Family members are almost always allowed as overnight guests at assisted living communities. After all, it is the resident’s apartment. Even communities that lock their doors at night will often buzz in family members who want to stay with loved ones but arrive after regular visiting hours.
Most assisted living facilities include transportation services in their fees. These services can range from rides to and from doctor appointments to group transport for a shopping trip at the mall.
Some assisted living apartments are furnished. Others are not. It depends on the facility. Even in furnished apartments, residents are encouraged to bring in some personal items to help make the place their own.
While requirements for assisted living residence vary, most communities insist residents be at least 60 years of age. Certain facilities have other rules such as “residents must be mobile enough to escape on their own or with little aid in the event of an emergency.”
