Assisted Living

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living offers a hassle-free, senior-friendly environment for older adults looking for an easier lifestyle and who need more assistance with daily living activities such as taking daily medication, getting dressed, attending to personal hygiene, and essential mobility. Assisted Living communities typically offer the same benefits as Independent Living, including safety, dining, activities, personal services, and inclusive rent. The significant difference is that Assisted Living residents require and pay for additional services.

A nurse talking to an elderly woman in a wheelchair.

As with Independent Living communities, a wide range of convenient amenities is provided, including:

  • Prepared meals in dining facilities or delivered to apartments.
  • Transportation around town to events, shopping, and medical appointments.
  • Social activities, such as entertainment, field trips, movie theater, and arts & crafts room.
  • Housekeeping and maintenance services.
  • Personal services such as a beauty salon, barbershop, or mail/package delivery.
  • Shared areas such as a library, chapel, or exercise room.
  • Concierge services.

Benefits of living in an Assisted Living Facility

  • Convenience:

    Residents are relieved from many household maintenance chores, including housekeeping, simple repairs, and tasks such as replacing lightbulbs.

  • Dining:

    Seniors unable to cook three healthy meals each day can experience variety and easy access, knowing menus are prepared with senior health concerns in mind. Sharing meals also provides social engagement, and residents may also have the option of dining in their room with meal delivery.

  • A sense of community:

    These living communities provide daily opportunities to connect with like-minded folks who share interests, such as playing games, watching movies, listening to music, and more.

  • Safety:

    Assisted Living communities keep senior health and safety at the forefront of their design considerations. Accessibility features such as handrails and walk-in showers minimize dangerous situations where falls may happen. In addition, these communities typically have trained medical staff available 24/7, first-aid supplies, and emergency call equipment or alert systems conveniently located in both apartments and common areas. Extra attention is paid to minimizing fall risks and other injury-prone situations.

  • An inclusive rent/fee structure:

    By including meals, utilities, cable TV, internet, and other daily living services as part of the monthly rent, residents avoid the hassle of remembering and organizing payment of numerous bills.

In addition, benefits specifically for Assisted Living include:

  • Supervision: Supervised assistance with daily living activities based on each resident’s needs.
  • Reassurance: Increased peace of mind for both the resident and family members.
  • Coordination: An overall plan coordinating the medical needs of each resident, such as visits with healthcare providers and home healthcare appointments, assistance with medication, and other types of treatment or rehabilitation, such as physical therapy. When palliative care or hospice care is indicated, these may also be coordinated.

Adult Family Home FAQs

What’s the difference between an Adult Family Home and other senior living options?

The number of residents in an Adult Family Home is much lower than Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing facilities. With more one-to-one engagement with caregivers, the environment is closer to a home situation. However, larger facilities have more social programming, including off-site activities, as they serve a wider variety of residents.

How do I know if an Adult Family Home is the right choice for my loved one?

When considering whether to move your family member into an Adult Family Home, take into account the following criteria:

  • Do they need ongoing assistance with personal hygiene, mobility, decision-making, and basic day-to-day tasks?
  • Are they looking for more activities?
  • Are they overwhelmed or flustered in large-group environments?
  • What level of ongoing medical assistance or supervision do they need?

With so many questions and factors to consider, connect with one of our Senior Living Advisors, who can help you evaluate the best options to meet your needs. Our team is ready to help you assess Adult Family Homes and other options to ensure you find the right solution for your situation.

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