WHAT IS ASSISTED LIVING?

WHAT IS ASSISTED LIVING?
An assisted living residence is a long-term senior care facility that provides 24-hour supervision and security, personal care support services such as meals, medication management, bathing, dressing and transportation.
Assisted living provides just the level of care they need to flourish and triumph in their new phase of life. After all, the golden years should be enjoyable-and assisted living has more options than ever before.
Caveat: Assisted living facilities are not permitted by law to provide medical care and consider it to be the family’s responsibility. So, be sure to make plans for Medicare health plans and potentially doctor’s visits for regular and as needed healthcare.
Assisted living facilities allow individuals to remain independent as long as possible in an environment that maximizes the person’s autonomy, dignity, privacy, and safety, as well as emphasizes family and community involvement.
This means that in cases of temporary incapacity, the care recipient should be allowed to remain in the facility or should be readmitted after needed outside services have been provided. Even when death is imminent, the facility often allows the patient to remain as long as the facility can provide any necessary services.
Remember the typical resident lives in assisted living for two to three years, and many then move to nursing homes. Some alternate reasons that a facility releases an person are:
To return home
For a hospital stay
Financial problems
To move to another assisted living facility.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT ASSISTED LIVING
Number of U.S. assisted living communities: 31,100
Number of apartments: 475,500
Number of residents: 735,000
Average length of stay: 36 months
Source: National Center for Assisted Living, National Caregivers Library