|
Assisted Living Facilities are state-licensed programs offered at residential
communities with services that include meals, laundry, housekeeping,
medication reminders, and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). These facilities are
for people needing such assistance but wishing to lives as independently as
possible for as long as possible. The exact definition will vary from state
to state, and a few states do not license assisted living facilities.
Assisted living is generally regarded as a step or two below skilled nursing
in level of care. It exists to bridge the gap between independent living and
nursing homes. Residents in assisted living centers are not able to
live by themselves but do not require constant care either. Many facilities
also have centers for medical care varying by facility; However, the care
offered may not be as intensive or available to residents as the care
offered at a nursing home.
Approximately
90 percent of the country's assisted living services are paid for with
private funds, although some states have adopted Medicaid waiver programs. Assisted living may also be referred to as:
- Personal Care,
- Board and Care,
- Residential Care,
- Boarding Home, etc.
There
are many assisted living facilities which have comprehensive programs
designed specifically for the elderly who cannot live on their own. These
are not retirement residences with an adjunct care program but are
facilities specially constructed for the purpose of caring for seniors.
Sometimes these facilities are conversions of retirement residences or small
apartments into care centers. They generally are laid out apartment style
with special amenities such as walk in showers, wide doors for wheelchair
access, emergency call pull cords, etc.
An assisted living facility size can vary from less than 20 beds
to over 200 beds. Larger is not always better. It is important to visit as
many in your area as you can to get a feel for what is available before you
make a choice.
To find an appropriate asisted living facility in your area, simply select your state or province and the type of facility or service you are looking for. Then click on the button of "Find Facilities". If you get too many results, please enter the name of your city to narrow the range.
After you get a list of facilities or service providers in you area, it is recommended contact each of them with the telephone numbers or email addresses to obtain specific detailed information about their services and prices before making your decisions.
|
Tell Friend
