What is assisted living?

It comes as no surprise that one of the most frequently asked question from those researching professional assisted living options is what does assisted living actually entail. The reason is simple this question is asked so often. It is because assisted living has no single definition. It differs from community to community, state to state and family to family.

Assisted living is essentially a combination of housing, personalized supportive services and healthcare designed to meet the individual needs of people who need help with the activities of daily living, but do not need the skilled medical care provided in a nursing home.

This level of care can cover a wide variety of resident needs, including dressing, bathing, using the bathroom, eating, mobility and getting in and out of bed. While assisted living is a healthcare-type environment, assisted living is different than a nursing home. Typical assisted living residents are able to live independently for some or most daily activities, and simply require help for certain non-medical issues.

Assisted living communities go by many names, including adult congregate living facilities, rest homes, homes for the aging, personal care homes, residential care, retirement homes, retirement communities, adult foster care and community residences, but they all point to the same type of care provided.

Those residents who require more intensive care or medical supervision such as those in memory care facilities are typically not residents of assisted living facilities, but rather find better-suited care in a nursing home or more medically oriented facility.

Choosing an assisted living community for your loved one is never an easy choice, and you should be very comfortable with the level of care provided by the community. At the very least, assisted living facilities should offer the following services:

• Medication management
• Daily living assistance (bathing, eating, dressing, etc.)
• Educational activities
• Dining
• Basic health and wellness services and programs
• Emergency call systems
• Housekeeping and maintenance
• Organized recreational and exercise activities
• Laundry services
• Religious activities
• Transportation arrangements
• 24-hour security

Assisted living is meant to provide your loved one with the care they need to live happy and healthy in a supportive environment.