What is Assisted Living Care?
Assisted living care is ideal for seniors who might have some issues with memory, periods of confusion, or limited range of physical activity. In short, assisted living care is for those who need help with certain limited daily tasks, but are still able to live for the most part independently. Care is available at numerous assisted living facilities across the country; these locations create individualized service plans for each resident so that every person receives exactly the services he or she needs while still being able to maintain his or her current lifestyle.
Care at assisted living facilities provide some or all of the following services: three meals a day served in the dining room within the residence; housekeeping and laundry services; transportation; help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking; access to health and medical services; 24 hour security and staff available on call; emergency call systems for each resident; health promotion and exercise programs; medication management; and social and recreational activities.1 Some facilities also provide specialized services which can incorporate care for conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, hospice, or interim care.2
Assisted living facilities range from small family residences with only a handful of people to large communities with hundreds of residents. Moreover, each state sets its own licensing requirements, regulations and inspection procedures which can make the services available and level of care differ from location to location. Therefore, it is essential to research carefully when looking for an assisted living facility for a loved one; it is important to visit the location multiple times, attend a meal, and become familiar with what services and amenities are included before making a decision.
| 1 | Assisted Living Federation of America. Accessed January 9, 2009. http://www.alfa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3285 | ||
| 2 | Accessed December 9, 2008. http://www.helpguide.org/elder/assisted_living_facilities.htm#types |