Assisted Living

Needing assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) is the most common reason seniors choose assisted living. Those seeking assistance typically need help with at least two everyday tasks. Studies show residents’ most common ADL needs are bathing, walking, and dressing.

• 77% of seniors need help with bathing
• 69% need help with walking
• 62% need help with dressing
• 51% need help with bed transfer
• 49% need help with toileting
• 26% need help with eating

^{Source: National Center for Assisted Living}

Assisted living communities provide personalized care in a residential setting that’s complemented by a vibrant lifestyle and plenty of social engagement.

In addition to assisting with ADLs, a host of convenient services are provided. These may include housekeeping, meals, laundry and transportation services. Social programs and activities are also a big part of daily life.

Staff is available 24/7 to help with safety, care, support – and life enrichment opportunities. Amenities such as restaurant-style dining, activity rooms, movie theaters, fitness centers and beauty salons also enhance life.

Medically complex and skilled nursing care. Though some assisted living communities offer skilled nursing care on the same campus, the two are quite different. Skilled nursing is for those who require more advanced caregiving than other senior living alternatives provide. It refers to a resident’s need for care or treatment that can only be performed by licensed nurses and a specially trained team. Skilled nursing is often suggested for seniors who routinely require hospitalization, if their chronic condition is worsening, or when their current accommodations are no longer an option.

Residents are assessed when they move in. Care is determined through a health assessment by the community according to state regulations. Care is reassessed, as needed, to ensure residents have individualized service plans that meet their specific – and evolving – needs.

Some assisted living communities also provide memory care. Memory care neighborhoods are typically in a secure part of the community with separate dining rooms and social areas.

Assisted living communities offer an array of convenient services, amenities, and social and lifestyle benefits. Many of their specially designed programs and opportunities have been adapted specifically for those who need support and assistance with the activities of daily living.

There are nearly 29,000 assisted living communities in the U.S. today, so there’s a community to fit just about every preference. While the types of assisted living settings vary from high-rise apartments to multi-acre campuses and everything in between, the approach is the same: treat all residents with dignity, provide privacy and encourage independence.

Assisted living is regulated in all 50 states.

There are more benefits to assisted living than simply getting a helping hand. It can make the quality of life significantly better for the person needing assistance and bring relief and peace of mind to the main caregiver (usually a loved one).

Who Benefits from Assisted Living?

• Seniors who need assistance with everyday activities
• Those not getting proper nutrition find going to the grocery store and preparing meals too burdensome
• Those who forget to take medication, take it at the wrong time or take more than prescribed
• Single seniors who are feeling lonely, depressed and in need of companionship
• Seniors with health-related issues requiring supervision like diabetes or a degenerative disease
• Seniors who can no longer climb the stairs or are prone to falls
• Those having difficulty managing the responsibilities of home and who no longer want to rely on family members

Because assisted living costs vary from one community to the next (residence size, types of services needed, and even which part of the country you live in) there’s no single answer to the question of cost. It is, however, often less expensive than home health or nursing care in the same area.

The Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2023 estimates the national median monthly rate for assisted living is $5,350, which breaks down to around $176 per day. To put that into context, the same survey says a private room in a nursing home will cost around $320 per day ($9,733 per month). Home health aide services average $207 per day. You can see what assisted living could cost in your state at Genworth.

Typically, no. Every state, however, has specific limitations and provisions. While your personal health insurance coverage continues and your pharmaceutical coverage continues, Medicare typically doesn’t pay for assisted living.

Most assisted living residents pay for this kind of care from their personal resources (“private pay”) or with help from the limited coverage provided by long-term care insurance. However, many states offer home and community-based waivers that can help low-income residents afford assisted living. Check with your state Medicaid resource to address your situation and needs.

Compare the cost of an assisted living community to the cost of remaining at home. You may be surprised.