Assisted living is a long-term care option for seniors. When the medical care provided by a nursing home is more than is needed, but the resources in a retirement community are not enough, a person can opt for assisted living. Assisted living is a combination of housing, personalized support services, and healthcare designed to provide 24-hour assistance and supervision if needed.
Because each resident’s needs are different, assisted living residences provide a variety of services with varying levels of assistance for seniors. Services offered may include:
The residential setting of an assisted living facility can range from an apartment complex to a renovated brownstone to a converted school. The units are typically either studios or one-bedrooms that are furnished or unfurnished and include a private or shared bathroom and a kitchen.
Regulations and licensing requirements vary from state to state. One study conducted in 2000 by the National Academy for State Health Policy found that 29 states and the District of Columbia have a licensing category or statute using the term assisted living. Most states have information about their assisted living licensing requirements and regulations accessible through the Internet.
The cost of assisted living varies according to the room size and types of services needed, and is highly variable across regions. In a document last updated in 2005, the US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that yearly costs range from $10,000 to more than $50,000 with an average monthly charge just below $2,000. Similar studies from 2007 (MetLife) show costs higher by about 50% for those without dementia and considerably higher if Alzheimer’s care is needed. Bathing and dressing assistance, medication management, and (in a few facilities) meals can add substantially to these costs. According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), three-quarters of assisted living residents paid for their housing from personal funds or with family assistance. Almost a quarter of residents received help with the cost from Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A little more than 3% of residents had funding through long-term care insurance policies and managed care programs.
The Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL) offers the following general steps for selecting an assisted living facility on their website:
If you want to continue to live independently but require assistance with some activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, managing medications, and housekeeping, assisted living may be right for you. The NCAL finds that more than a million seniors have chosen assisted living because it provides security and independence, privacy and companionship, and physical and social well being.
RESOURCES:
Assisted Living Federation of America
http://www.alfa.org/alfa/Default.asp/
Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living
http://www.ccal.org/
National Center for Assisted Living
http://www.ncal.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Office of the Assisted Living Registrar—British Columbia
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/assisted/
Seniors Canada
http://www.seniors.gc.ca/
References:
Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA). Consumer checklist. ALFA website. Available at: http://www.alfa.org/alfa/Default.asp . Accessed on December 31, 2003.
Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA). What is assisted living? ALFA website. Available at: http://www.alfa.org/public/articles/details.cfm?id=96 . Accessed on December 31, 2003.
Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL). Steps for choosing an assisted living facility. CCAL website. Available at: http://www.ccal.org/steps_for_choosing_an_assisted_living_facility.htm . Accessed on: January 17, 2004.
Mollica R and the National Academy for State Health Policy. State Assisted Living Policy 2000. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Resource Network website. Available at: http://www.hcbs.org/resources/four/al/state_assisted_living_policy_200.htm . Accessed on January 17, 2004.
National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). Assisted living: independence, choice and dignity. NCAL website. Available at: http://www.ncal.org/about/alicd.pdf . Accessed on December 31, 2003.
Last reviewed July 2008 by Lawrence Frisch, MD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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