Assisted Living

Assisted Living Resident

If you would like to maintain your independence, but you require a bit of help on a daily or weekly basis, perhaps an assisted living facility (ALF) would be an excellent compromise.

What Is Assisted Living?

An ALF is neither a nursing home, which offers full medical care, nor an independent living center, which exists as a senior community with amenities but no services. Rather, an ALF is somewhere in the middle. In this type of home, seniors retain much of their independence. They are able to come and go as they please, with many residents even keeping their own vehicles for transportation. Many resemble apartments or even houses; here they differ is in the services provided.

Services Offered

While ALF centers will usually help administer medication, most do not provide full medical care. Instead, they focus on personal care and basic living essentials such as:

  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Personal hygiene
  • Cooking
  • Feeding
  • Household chores
  • Laundry
  • Transportation

In addition, most facilities also host social events and activities regularly.

Making the Decision

Before you set out to select a facility, you must first determine that this is indeed the right type of environment to suit your lifestyle. To decide, you have to take an honest look at yourself and your needs. Do you require full-time medical care? This is the most important consideration. While assisted living can be a great choice for seniors with memory problems or even mild Alzheimer's, it is not appropriate for someone needing around-the-clock care. The assisted living staff is simply not equipment to handle serious physical illnesses. ALFs can be wonderful options for seniors with limited mobility, as long as they are otherwise healthy.

If your own health, happiness, or well-being would be jeopardized by living alone, then an ALF is probably not the best option. Cost is another important consideration. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, a person living in a one-bedroom apartment in an assisted living facility in 2009 could expect to pay $3,131 per month. This is much less expensive than a stay in a nursing home, where a private room cost $219 per day ($6,570 per month) in 2009. Choosing semi-private accommodations in a nursing home cost a resident $198 per day ($5,940 per month) that year.

You should also check with your state government, as some offer housing subsidies or Medicaid waivers to help cover the costs.

Choosing a Facility

Once you have determined that you are a good candidate for an ALF, you are ready to find the facility that is right for you. Rather than shop on price alone, you must find a place that meets your unique needs. Ask the following questions:

  • Are the employees warm and friendly?
  • Does the facility allow the level of freedom and independence that I require?
  • Is the facility licensed?
  • Is the facility clean and hygenic?
  • Do I have the privacy I desire?
  • Does the facility offer adequate security?
  • Is 24-hour emergency care available if needed?
  • Is adequate safety equipment, including bathroom rails and wheelchair ramps, readily available?
  • Does the management give me and my family a voice in developing the care plan?
  • Does the facility offer all of the services that I need now? Does it offer services that I might require in the near future?
  • Can the facility accommodate special dietary needs?
  • Is the staff willing to work with and communicate with my doctor?
  • Does the facility offer activities that I enjoy?

For More Information

To find out more about ALFs, visit:

For seniors whose health and social needs coincide with the level of care provided in this type of facility, this living option can be a nice compromise between completely independent living and moving to a nursing home. An ALF offers seniors needing a bit of care the option of having the services they need without losing the feeling of freedom that they may cherish.