What Is: Assisted Living?
Assisted living facilities and communities offer seniors as much independence as they may desire along with the support services that they might require, including assistance with basic activities of life such as bathing, dressing and grooming. Assisted living residents are most often seniors who have suffered a slight decline in health that make it necessary for them to have some level of support, but not enough to require nursing home care. Assisted living facilities differ from nursing homes in that they do not provide medical services, although some states permit them to offer medication assistance to their residents. Assisted living facilities may be large, multi-building complexes or small, single-unit operations. Most offer a pleasant physical environment with either studio or one-bedroom apartment units equipped with kitchen facilities, making them far more appealing to eligible seniors and their families than nursing homes. Assisted living residents receive the benefit of living in a place with they have frequent social interaction and relative freedom from responsibilities.
