Assisted Living: Help Only When You Need It

An article from the AARP website

Most people want to remain living independently — even when they get older. An assisted living facility can provide a housing alternative with just the right amount of help to keep an independent lifestyle. Perhaps you or your parents only need help getting to the store. Maybe you (or they) just don't want to cook any more. Assisted living residents can get as much help as they wish with these kinds of activities, but not more than they want.

What You Should Know

Who Should Choose Assisted Living? Assisted living facilities are for those who, by choice or necessity, feel they need help with some activities but do not require extensive care. Generally, the resident can get help with daily living activities such as eating, housekeeping, dressing, and bathing. Assisted living facilities do not offer heavy medical and nursing care.

Type of Housing. Assisted living facilities are residential in character, although there is no standard size. Residences can range from one room to a full apartment and can be found in a high-rise building, a converted school, or a large home.

Services Vary. Assisted living facilities go by many names. For instance, sometimes they are called board and care, domiciliary care, sheltered housing, or residential care. Whatever its name, be sure you know what services the facility provides since services can vary greatly among facilities. Also learn if the services are provided by employees or by other agencies. Some assisted living facilities are part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). CCRCs provide a continuum of residential long-term care.

Benefits.

• If chosen carefully, assisted living provides housing that can feel like one's own home.
• It can be a viable option for someone who needs services that cannot be scheduled easily or conveniently.
• If a number of services are needed, this is usually more cost effective than home care services that are paid for individually.
• Privacy is generally more emphasized in this type of housing than in a nursing home setting.
• Services are delivered based upon need and desire.

Choosing an Assisted Living Facility. Services can vary greatly from facility to facility, so it's important to ask questions. Here are several things to consider when choosing an assisted living facility:

• Is the privacy and autonomy of residents emphasized?
• Are the activities located in places that are accessible to residents with physical needs?
• What are the needs of the resident, and what does the residence cost? Some facilities base their rate on the square footage of the unit. Adding square feet, separate bedrooms, or a full kitchen can add greatly to the cost.
• What rights do residents have? Especially consider those rights regarding safety, privacy, ability to organize resident councils, and control of personal finances.
• What are the staffing patterns? How many and what types of staff are employed?

For More Information

AARP Publications
For a free copy of the following publications, send a request to member@aarp.org. Please include the publication title and stock number and your postal mailing address.

Navigating Your Way to a Quality Assisted Living Facility (D#17037)
This AARP booklet helps you prepare to visit facilities and understand the contracts.

Assisted Living: Weighing the Options (D#17051)
This AARP booklet is a starting point for deciding whether assisted living is the option that will meet your needs.

Administration on Aging (AoA)
This site, developed by the National Resource and Policy Center on Housing and Long Term Care of AoA, gives a checklist for evaluating assisted living residences. It also provides links to other consumer information Web sites.

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)
NCAL is the assisted-living voice of the American Health Care Association, an organization representing long-term care providers. This Web site has information for those considering assisted living.

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)
AAHSA represents non-profit organizations dedicated to providing quality health care, housing, and services to the elderly. This Web site gives some criteria to consider when choosing an assisted living facility.

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