What is assisted living?
Assisted Living is both a housing and health care option for seniors. Generally, most Assisted Living residents need assistance with two or more activities of daily living (ADLs) such as assistance with bathing, hygiene, dressing and medications. Popular benefits for seniors in need of Assisted Living services include increased socialization with peers, enhanced nutritional status, and greater compliance with medications.
Assisted Living is both a housing and health care option for seniors. Generally, most Assisted Living residents need help with two or more daily living activities such as bathing, dressing or medications. Assisted Living lets seniors continue being active and seeing their friends, ensures that they are eating a healthy diet, and reminds them to take their medications.
Assisted living is an alternative to living in your current home. It includes adult family homes, residential care apartment complexes (RCAC), community based residential facility, and nursing homes. An adult family home is a place where 3 or 4 adults who are not related to the operator reside and receive care, treatment or services that are above the level of room and board. An RCAC is an apartment type setting that offers some independence and control over personal space. Room and board, up to 28 hours per week of supportive care, personal care, and nursing services are generally offered in an RCAC. A CBRF is a place where 5 or more unrelated people live together in a community setting. Services provided include room and board, supervision, support services, and may include up to 3 hours of nursing care per week. A nursing home is a facility in which a resident can receive care or treatment and, because of their mental or physical condition, require access to 24-hour nursing services
Assisted living facilities are for people needing assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) but wishing to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Assisted living exists to bridge the gap between independent living and nursing homes. Residents in assisted living centers are not able to live by themselves but do not require constant care either. Assisted living facilities offer help with ADLs such as eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping, and assistance with medications. Assisted living is not an alternative to a nursing home, but and intermediate level of long-term care appropriate for many seniors.
Assisted living provides each person with just the right amount of care to allow him or her to maintain their independence—all within the comforts of home. Assisted living provides a personalized alternative for seniors who need more assistance in their lives, but do not require the full-time attention associated with costly nursing or home care. What is Assisted Living Not? Assisted living is not a nursing home. Our residents tend to be frail, need assistance with medications, meals, ambulation and other activities, but are not chronically ill. Assisted living does not staff nurses around the clock, although higher quality providers usually have a licensed nurse on staff. At the same time, because assisted living is a residential model of care, residents have more choices and control over their living arrangements and activities than in the more institutional nursing home setting. Consulting with your doctor can help you know which level of care is right for you. Making the Right Choi
