A senior living option for those with minimal needs for help with daily living and care. Its purpose is to help adults who need non-medical assistance, but don’t require 24-hour nursing care to live independently in a safe environment.
Deeper dive
Definitions of assisted living facilities (ALF) vary from state to state. In California, for example, assisted living includes “board and care homes,” which are often six bed facilities in residential housing as well as much larger facilities. Some ALFs primarily serve adults 60 or younger (Adult Residential Care Facilities) while others serve people 60 and older (Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly—RCFEs), according to the California Department for Aging. Texas, on the other hand, licenses assisted living facilities based on residents’ physical and mental ability to evacuate the facility in an emergency and whether nighttime attendance is necessary.
There are no federal standards and regulations for assisted living facilities. Each state defines assisted living and sets the regulations for the entity.
Generally, in addition to the monthly cost for housing, which can range from a private or shared bedroom to a full apartment, ALFs usually provide the following services:
- Help with bathing, dressing, grooming, ambulating/transferring.
- Meals/snacks.
- Housekeeping and laundry.
- Transportation.
- Activities.
- Assistance with medication.
- Supervision/preventing wandering.
Additional monthly fees may be charged for more extensive care based on the resident’s assessed care needs. Some facilities may deny admission or require a resident to transfer to a nursing home if more intense nursing care is required.