Planning Ahead: A Consumer's Guide to Assisted Living Facilities

The aging of America, together with extended life expectancy, is resulting in an unprecedented demand for all kinds of long-term care services.  From this, a rapidly growing field known as “assisted living” has emerged.  The philosophy of assisted living is to provide supervision, assistance and personal care services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities as needed. The goal is to maintain maximum independence in a home-like setting, while providing individualized care and assistance.  Assisted living offers a unique mix of security and independence, privacy and companionship, and physical and social well being.

Choosing the appropriate residential setting can make all the difference in an individual’s mental, physical, and social well being.  Whether you need care for a loved one, or for yourself, this brochure will help you learn about assisted living, determine whether it is an appropriate option for your particular needs and preferences, and help you make a wise selection.

Assisted Living Today

Assisted living is part of a continuum of long term care services that provides a combination of housing, personal care services, and health care designed to respond to individuals who need assistance with normal daily activities in a way that promotes maximum independence.

Assisted living services can be provided in freestanding residences, near or integrated with skilled nursing homes or hospitals, as components of continuing care retirement communities, or at independent housing complexes.

Assisted living residences offer a multifaceted residential setting that provides personal care services, 24-hour supervision and assistance, activities and health-related services, designed to:

• Minimize the need to relocate;
• Accommodate individual residents’ changing needs and preferences;
• Maximize residents’ dignity, autonomy, privacy, independence, choice and safety; and
• Encourage family and community involvement.

Services And Activities

The services and activities provided or arranged for in assisted living residences generally include:

• 24-hour supervision;
• Three meals a day in a group dining room; and
• A range of services that promote the quality of life and independence of the individual; such as :

  • Personal care services (help with bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.)
  • Medication management, or assistance with self-administration of medicine;
  • Social services;
  • Supervision and assistance for persons with Alzheimer’s or other dementias and disabilities;
  • Recreational and spiritual activities;
  • Exercise and wellness programs;
  • Laundry and linen service;
  • Housekeeping and maintenance; and,
  • Arrangements for transportation.

In most states, assisted living residences are registered, licensed or certified by an appropriate department or agency of the state that has a process for issuance of initial licenses and for renewing existing licenses.

Each resident receives individualized services to help him/her function within the residence and within the community. Upon admission, a service plan is usually developed to coordinate the delivery of services to each resident.  The agreement, which includes an assessment or evaluation of the resident’s physical and psychosocial needs, is reviewed and updated regularly by the staff, and as the resident’s condition indicates. The resident and family, or responsible party, are encouraged to play an active role in the development of the service plan.

A resident care or wellness coordinator is usually designated to oversee the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating the progress of the service plan.  A copy of the service plan is provided to the resident, family, or responsible party upon request.