Assisted Living

Assisted Living

Assisted living is a residence for older people or people with disabilities who require help with some of the routines of daily living as well as access to medical care when needed. Such people, or their families, may choose assisted living facilities so that professional help is on hand. Assisted living residents may require ongoing medical care as well as trained nursing services.

Assisted living generally allows more independence and costs less than nursing home care, but is more expensive than an independent living facility. The assisted living setting is similar to a personal residence, compared to a nursing home's hospital-like setting. Assisted living is suitable for individuals who cannot manage on their own but want to maintain as much independence as possible.

There are thousands of assisted living facilities in the U.S., many of them offering specialized services, so prospective residents have options depending on their circumstances and preferences.

Assisted living facilities generally provide meals, housekeeping, transportation, security, physical therapy, and activities for residents. Healthcare and supervision are available 24/7 in most facilities. The facility will create a written care plan for each resident and reassess and update the plan as needed.