Assisted living is a type of housing facility that provides personalized care in a residential setting for older adults or people with disabilities who require some assistance with daily living activities. Assisted living services can be delivered in stand-alone facilities or as part of a multi-level senior living community. The level of support provided is determined through a health assessment by the community according to state regulations. Assisted living facilities range in size from as few as 25 residents to 120 or more, and typically offer a few "levels of care" with residents paying more for higher levels of care.
Assisted living is not the same as skilled nursing or nursing home care. In a skilled nursing facility, residents receive full-time care by a specially trained medical staff. People who require a higher level of medical care, either short-term or long-term, need what’s known as skilled nursing care, extended care, or long-term care.
Assisted living communities provide a healthy lifestyle and social engagement, and are similar to independent living communities in terms of the types of social and lifestyle benefits they offer. Assisted living residents usually live in their own apartments or rooms and share common areas. They have access to many services, including up to three meals a day, assistance with personal care, help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry, 24-hour supervision, security, and on-site staff, and social and recreational activities.
