Assisted living facilities began to spring up around the United States during the mid-1980s. Since then, this variety of long-term care facility has grown rapidly in popularity. According to the Assisted Living Federation of America, about one million seniors are now being served at the more than 36,000 assisted living facilities that exist nationwide.
Goal
Assisted living facilities aim to provide residents with a private, personalized, dignified home-like setting where they can receive help with activities of daily living such as bathing and grooming. Residents have access to round-the-clock assistance, if needed. Assisted living facilities offer a residential alternative to skilled nursing facilities and provide more help than what is available in independent retirement communities, according to AARP.
Facilities
Assisted living facilities come in many shapes and sizes. A facility may occupy anything from a high-rise tower to a modest Victorian home, the Assisted Living Federation of America points out. It may be housed in the middle of a busy urban area or sit on a sprawling multi-acre campus. Designed to accommodate the needs of their residents and staff, they usually include private residential areas as well as common areas for dining, exercise and other activities.
Personal Care
The staff at assisted living facilities help patients with both their planned and their unexpected needs, day and night. They help residents with taking medications, bathing, grooming, walking, eating and going to the bathroom. They drive residents to medical appointments and respond to residents' emergencies. They need to be able to help residents who have cognitive as well as physical impairments.
Activities and Amenities
At most assisted living facilities, residents receive three meals a day. They have access to group exercise classes and recreational activities. Most facilities have staff to handle residents' housekeeping and laundry, as well as providing transportation and round-the-clock security, according to the Assisted Living Federation of America.
Costs and Payment
The level of care provided at most assisted living facilities doesn't come cheaply. The Assisted Living Federation of America reports that the median monthly price for a one-bedroom private unit in an assisted living facility is $2,575. Costs vary based on apartment size, geographic region, level of assistance needed and other factors. Some facilities charge admission fees, as well, the AARP reports. Most people fund their stay using private funds, although Medicaid or long-term care insurance also supports residents' stays in some states.
