Assisted or senior living facilities evolved to meet the needs of adults who are unable, or who no longer want to live independently. Assisted living fills the void between long-term health care facilities such as nursing homes and a private residence.
The typical senior is mobile, but needs help with two or more of life’s basic activities. Health professionals define the activities of daily living as bathing and toileting, dressing, eating and aid in transferring.
Assisted living residents who have lost spouses and friends often gain new friends with mutual interests. Residents are encouraged to participate in meaningful activities and social events sponsored by the facility. Assisted living fills the needs for safety and security that gives peace of mind. Medication management and food preparation by staff support senior health.
People come to senior living from private homes or from retirement or independent living communities. Some have lived with adult children. Hospital or nursing facilities sometimes recommend assisted living arrangements for newly discharged patients.
The average stay at an assisted living facility averages between two and three years. Some residents return home, some will require more medical management than the senior living arrangement can give and transfer to a nursing home. Some residents will pass away.
Assurance of privacy, dignity and respect for each resident is the driving principal behind excellent senior living residential communities.
Residents expect to retain control over personal finances, possessions and health-related services. They want to be free to interact with other residents and the community at large. Excellent assisted living facilities have an active resident’s council. Management has an obligation to support choice, dignity and independence for each resident.
The Agency on Aging established a program of certified Ombudsmen to handle complaints made by residents. These volunteers are trained problem solvers. A resident who files a complaint must give the Ombudsman permission to share the complaint or it remains confidential. Every state is required to have an Ombudsman Program under the federal Older Americans Act.
State laws regulate assisted living communities. Support services include transportation and security as well as laundry, housekeeping and meal preparation. Residents are encouraged to take their meals in a common dining area. Medical assessment at admission determines the tier or level of care the resident requires.
Assisted living arrangements are usually less expensive than nursing homes or home health care, but they are not inexpensive. Price tags are dependent on apartment size and the tier level of care. In 2009 the average rate for a one-bedroom, assisted-living apartment was $3,131 per month. Medicare does not cover assisted living fees. Medicaid pays for services but not room and board, and Medicaid recipients may not have assets greater than $2000.00.
Three quarters of all seniors cover the cost of assisted living from personal or family funds. Government supplied Supplemental Security Income pays for a small number of people. Modern comprehensive long-term care policies underwrite assisted living arrangements, although the insured must meet the policy requirements to receive benefits. Long term care insurance should be a component of retirement planning.
Twenty-five years ago assisted living was a new concept. Senior living continues to evolve to fill the needs of the active but aging baby boomer generation. Today over one million residents inhabit more than thirty-six thousand facilities across the United States. Assiisted living is the fastest growing long-term care option available to senior citizens.
Senior living facilities come in all shapes and sizes, from multi-acre campuses to remodeled mansions. They are located in cities, towns and the countryside. Seniors can find a facility that enhances their abilities and enriches their lives.