Assisted Living Facilities - An Overview

As many seniors age, they begin to need assistance with everyday activities such as getting dressed, using the restroom, and preparing and eating meals. This is true even for seniors who are fairly healthy and mentally sharp. According to The Department of Health and Human Services, someone turning 65 today has an almost 70% chance of needing long-term care. 

In the past, when seniors could no longer safely live at home by themselves, many were forced to turn to nursing homes, which provide 24-hour skilled nursing services in a clinical setting. The unforeseen consequence of moving seniors who are still fairly healthy to such clinical environments is losing their sense of independence, privacy, and control over their lives. Such a loss, often prematurely, contributes to physical and mental decline. Additionally, nursing homes are prohibitively expensive to live in long-term. According to Genworth Financial, the median monthly cost of nursing home care is $9,034 for a private room or $7,908 monthly for a shared room.

Assisted living facilities provide seniors with access to daily assistance with personal care tasks while still living as independently as possible in a social setting. Assisted living is also far less expensive than nursing homes, with the national median cost being about $4,500 per month or less than half of the $9,034 a month that’s common for nursing homes. Over the years, assisted living communities have become increasingly popular, replacing the role of nursing homes in many seniors’ lives. A 2020 study by the CDC estimates that an average of 30,000 residential care facilities provide assisted living or a similar level of care in the United States. In other words, about 13,300 more assisted living facilities are available than nursing homes.

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a form of senior housing in which residents receive regular help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing, toileting, grooming, and more. Help with transportation, shopping, medication management, and other activities that seniors find difficult to accomplish on their own is also quite common. Assisted living facilities primarily help residents with non-medical needs, although minor and infrequent medical services, such as first-aid for a wound, can sometimes be met on-site by nurses. These communities are also called ALFs, residential care facilities, retirement homes, or long-term care facilities.

Quality assisted living facilities can feel like a home thanks to their friendly staff, nutritious meals, and regular opportunities for socialization with other residents. They can also often look like an upscale hotel, with nicely furnished dining rooms and indoor and outdoor gathering places as well as well-kept private rooms. Of course, the appearance of ALFs varies quite a bit, so seniors should shop around for a location that meets their desired standard of living.

Assisted Living Compared to Other Forms of Senior Living

One of the challenging aspects of researching assisted living options is that it’s easy to confuse it with other forms of senior housing. Sometimes, one facility may offer more than one form of care on the same property. The table below can help you understand the most important distinctions between common housing and care types.

Comparison of Assisted Living to Other Forms of Senior Living

*These figures are estimates only and can vary significantly by area and facility. The Genworth Financial 2021 Long-Term Care Survey provides greater state-level cost data on most forms of care. Memory care often costs between $1,000-$4,000 more than assisted living each month, but state-specific data can be difficult to find.

Independent Living Communities

In independent living communities, seniors live with almost complete independence in their own apartments, bungalows, or other styles of homes. Seniors often sell their houses and move into these communities so that they can be free of home maintenance tasks and enjoy their retirement more fully in a social setting. Other benefits of living in these communities include optional access to the cafeteria, pet-friendly amenities, help with laundry and other light housework, and even transportation. These communities are suitable for both couples and single seniors. 

Independent living can cost roughly $2,500-$3,500 monthly, though pricing does vary widely based on local real estate markets. Typically, independent living costs far less than other forms of senior living since these facilities do not offer personal assistance with tasks other than cooking, chores, and transportation.

Assisted Living Communities

Assisted living communities often look like and have the same basic atmosphere as quality independent living communities. However, in an assisted living community, seniors can get help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This means that, if they need it, they can get daily assistance with numerous tasks, including toileting, bathing, dressing, medication management, and more. However, assisted living communities are only equipped to provide minimal medical care. Those who use ventilators or feeding tubes or people who need continuous medical or behavioral supervision cannot live in an assisted living environment.

Assisted living typically costs several thousand more dollars yearly than an independent living community, but it also includes a much more comprehensive set of services than independent living. Genworth Financial says the national median monthly cost of assisted living is $4,500. Depending on location and amenities, this number can be much higher or lower.

Memory Care Communities

Memory care communities may be located in self-contained buildings or within other facilities that offer other levels of care. Regardless of location, security is paramount. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are prone to wandering, getting lost, and becoming agitated or bored, so these centers typically incorporate secure perimeters, alarms, and other safety features. Patients who live in these centers benefit from 24/7 supervision, a home-like environment, activities designed to be fulfilling and stimulating, and staff who specialize in helping seniors with memory impairment. In addition to services specifically intended for those with memory impairment, residents of memory care facilities can receive help with all ADLs and IADLs. Just like in assisted living, seniors in these communities may be able to get minimal medical care.

Memory care facilities require specialized staff training, more experienced staff members, and more security than ALFs, so they are more expensive. As a general rule, expect memory care to cost between $1,000 and $4,000 more per month than assisted living in the same area. This translates to a cost anywhere from $4,300-$11,000 monthly. 

Nursing Homes 

Nursing homes represent the highest level of medical care that a senior can receive in a residential setting. They used to be the favored care solution for seniors who needed almost any form of help with ADLs and IADLs and those with any form of dementia. Now, medical professionals have recognized that nursing homes, which are often more like hospitals than anything else, are best reserved for those who need constant medical supervision.

Due to the operating costs associated with keeping an around-the-clock staff of medically trained personnel such as RNs and physicians, nursing homes are the most costly form of senior residential care. Staying in a nursing home for a month costs about $7,900- $13,400, with $9,034 being the national median. In many cases, it can easily be over twice the cost of assisted living.

What Types of Care Are Provided in Assisted Living

Assisted living meets the needs of seniors who require some assistance with daily tasks but do not need constant supervision or extensive, daily medical care. Assisted living facilities are able to provide that “middle ground” option that so many seniors need. These communities primarily serve their residents by helping them with ADLs and IADLs. Most also provide meals and scheduled activities for residents, and some offer extra services such as transportation, laundry, and housekeeping.

Assistance with ADLs

ADLs include basic tasks that one must perform every day, such as bathing, eating, dressing, and using the toilet (usually referred to as toileting). Staff can also help seniors move from room to room or transfer from one surface to another, such as from a bed to a chair. Providers can tailor services to each resident’s individual needs, so they will receive assistance with any ADLs they need while still having the freedom to complete other tasks independently and spend time alone as they wish. Many seniors who enter an assisted living facility will not need help with all ADLs. Note that seniors who no longer walk at all may not always be able to stay in assisted living; this can vary by facility.

Assistance with IADLs

IADLs are skills that involve more complexity and advanced abilities than the ADLs covered above. While an ADL like eating or using the restroom can be performed by many children, an IADL is a skill typically first acquired by teenagers or older individuals. Seniors who are still fairly independent may be more likely to need help with IADLs than with ADLs. Note that while assistance with ADLs is a standard feature of all assisted living communities, not all ALFs provide assistance with IADLs. 

Examples of IADLs:

• Medication management
• Transportation and shopping
• Meal preparation
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Money management
• Communication

Some of these skills will be important daily, as with ADLs, while others will only be necessary weekly or even less frequently. Providers can tailor the amount of help one receives with IADLs to their specific needs.

The key IADL that assisted living residents will get help with is meal preparation. Most ALFs have a dining room where meals are served three times a day, and many communities will also provide snacks. Able residents can also perform some of their own meal preparation, as apartments in assisted living facilities can include refrigerators and, less commonly, hot plates, microwaves, or even ovens. However, by and large, seniors will have most of their nutritional needs met in a group dining setting.

Other Services Often Provided

Assisted living facilities can and frequently do provide services to residents beyond assistance with ADLs or IADLs. These services can vary, but below we’ve listed two categories of services commonly offered by ALFs.

• Skilled Nursing: In many cases, assisted living facilities can provide a certain level of skilled nursing care. For example, seniors may receive wound care, medication management, periodic monitoring of blood pressure or blood sugar, and other relatively minor but important forms of routine care on-site. However, skilled nursing in assisted living is not available 24/7. 
• Social Activities: Seniors, like all people, need regular social interaction to maintain mental health and an overall sense of wellbeing. Virtually all assisted living communities have an activities director that plans all kinds of social activities, including craft classes, game nights, outings, fitness classes, parties, and much more. Some activities may cost extra.

Is Assisted Living Right for Me?

Assisted living isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It won’t work with everyone’s financial circumstances, and it also won’t meet everyone’s needs. However, assisted living is a great option for many seniors, providing a blend of assistance and independence that promotes health and wellbeing. Below you can learn about who is and isn’t likely to benefit from a move to one of these communities.

Who Should Consider Assisted Living?

Those Who Need Assistance with Daily Tasks

As we age, certain tasks that we must perform daily become more difficult. Seniors who live alone or only have part-time caregivers may struggle to procure necessities and maintain their hygiene, health, and the cleanliness of their home. These seniors may, voluntarily or not, stretch out the time between bathing or continue wearing clothes longer than is sanitary because the amount of effort involved is so draining. Forgetfulness or exhaustion can lead to a decline in lifestyle. In situations like this, a move to an assisted living facility can help the senior be happier and healthier. ALF staff who can efficiently and kindly help with these tasks makes completing them all regularly much more manageable. Moreover, CNAs, RNs, and other assistants at these facilities are trained to help with ADLs in the safest ways possible, minimizing the chances of injuries and other problems that can occur with well-meaning but untrained family caregivers. 

Those Who Want To Increase Their Social Interactions

Some seniors who need assistance may get it at home from paid or unpaid caregivers but may suffer from isolation even though their needs are being met. For seniors in this situation, moving to an assisted living facility with a thriving community of other seniors can provide an invaluable boost to the senior’s social wellbeing. Many seniors love to live in a community with people similar to them. Many may also benefit from meeting new people there, particularly if they have recently lost other elderly friends. 

Those Who Anticipate Gradually Increasing Needs

Many seniors will notice a gradual decline in some of their abilities to care for themselves. Gradual declines in self-care skills can cause worry as seniors wonder at what point their existing support system won’t be able to offer them enough help in their homes. For seniors who fully expect some tasks to become too difficult but who know that their current caregiver is unlikely to be able to help with these tasks, looking into assisted living now may be a wise move. Because residents of ALFs can live as independently as they wish, seniors can remain independent while they can and add on more assistance over time as needed. 

Who Should Consider Other Options?

Those Who Prefer Smaller Group Settings

Large assisted living facilities are not the only residential setting where seniors can get help with ADLs and IADLs. One common alternative is called a care home. In care homes, 6-10 seniors live together with full-time caregivers in a licensed home setting. These homes can provide more robust supervision, and their intimate setting may make some seniors feel more comfortable. Additionally, these kinds of homes may be more plentiful in some locations. They can be a great alternative for those who are far away from the nearest assisted living facility but who don’t want to move far from family. The cost of living in these homes is often comparable to that of assisted living.

Those Who Are Fully Independent

Assisted living is not the ideal setting for seniors who are still fully independent. Seniors looking for more socialization and fewer responsibilities but do not require help with ADLs should look into independent living locations instead. Though daily assistance is unavailable in these communities, independent living facilities can provide transportation, help with shopping and meals, and, in some cases, indoor and outdoor home maintenance. Independent living is also less expensive than assisted living, so seniors who are fully independent and expect to remain so for years to come would ultimately be spending extra money unnecessarily. Remember that if and when a resident of independent living requires more assistance, they will most likely need to move to a different facility that provides more care services.

Those Who Need Frequent Medical Care

If you need ongoing medical care with constant supervision from a nurse or doctor throughout the day, an assisted living facility will not meet your needs. Although registered nurses and other medically trained staff are sometimes present at assisted living facilities, they are not present 24/7. The onsite medically trained employees in assisted living communities are staffed to focus on minor medical rather than full-time, intensive medical needs. Those with a chronic condition or otherwise need around-the-clock care to be available will not receive enough attention in an assisted living setting and are better suited for a nursing home.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

Undoubtedly, assisted living is expensive, with a national monthly median cost of $4,500 and possibly even higher costs in some locations. However, assisted living includes a room and regular meals, activities, and personal assistance with many aspects of life. Therefore, you can’t compare the cost of assisted living to the cost of living in a home or apartment. The value of the meals, assistance, and community can make the cost well worth it.

Payment Structures in Assisted Living Communities

There are two basic forms of billing for assisted living. Most facilities will give the resident an all-inclusive bill. This bill will stay the same month after month, regardless of how many or how few services the patient uses regularly. The bill will only change if the facility enacts a price increase. Many seniors will need assistance with one to three activities of daily living in an assisted living facility. However, their cost will stay the same if they need more help.

In rare cases, facilities may itemize their billing process, charging separately for different services. This option may be called “fee-for-service.” This form of billing tends to be more expensive, not to mention more complicated, for residents and their families. Some facilities may give you a choice between an itemized bill and an all-inclusive bill. All-inclusive may be a better deal, though an itemized bill could be a good choice if a senior has fewer-than-average needs. Note that most communities bill monthly, but you may also be able to pay on another schedule if you inquire.

How Do I Pay for Assisted Living?

When seniors need help with ADLs and IADLs but are otherwise in good health, they often find themselves in a tough financial position. Since they don’t need a nursing home level of care, most private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicare Advantage cannot cover their housing costs. However, the cost of assisted living is often far higher than what they have been accustomed to spending on their housing, food, and other daily needs. To help you understand the financial assistance options available to seniors in need of assisted living services, we’ve covered some common personal assets, forms of insurance, and publicly-offered programs that can all be used to pay for assisted living.

Paying for Assisted Living With Available Assets and Private Insurance

Even if you do not have an exceptionally high income, you may have some resources to tap into to meet your assisted living needs. Funding a stay in assisted living will often require using more than one of the assets listed below.

Home Equity and Home Sales

Usually, real estate is one of the largest assets that a person has. If you can no longer stay in your home, it can make sense to sell and use the money to augment your retirement funds. The sale of a valuable home or vacation property can enable you to enjoy an extended stay in assisted living. Of course, the decision to sell can be difficult, mainly if you had intended to one day pass this home to a child. Additionally, the process of selling a home, particularly if the housing market has slowed, can be a long one.

Some seniors opt to leverage their home equity in ways that stop short of an outright sale. Popular options include a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or a reverse mortgage. In both cases, the senior is borrowing against the home’s value, and when the “borrowing” phase of their HELOC or reverse mortgage is over, they will need to begin paying that money back. A HELOC may provide more flexibility for paying back over time, whereas a reverse mortgage may require a lump sum payment. In either case, it’s possible and even probable that the family will need to forfeit the home after the senior’s death to pay for what has been borrowed. There are numerous restrictions for HELOCs and reverse mortgages, and you can read more about each on our resource page.

Life Insurance

Life insurance policies should, ideally, benefit our relatives once we are gone. However, sometimes when seniors lack funding for their immediate care, it can make sense to take what you can from a life insurance policy now. Some policies have a cash value, also known as the “surrender” value, that the insurance company will give you if you forfeit the right to the death benefit. This amount can sometimes be relatively low. Some policies also allow you to add an “accelerated death benefit” to your policy. This will enable you to use a portion of the future death benefit without forfeiting the whole, but it usually means higher-than-average premiums. 

Another option for getting the most out of life insurance before death is to sell the policy to a third-party company. This kind of deal can be called a life settlement or a life insurance conversion. In this transaction, a senior sells the policy to another company. That company continues making the payments and will get the full death benefit when the senior passes. In exchange, the company gives the senior approximately 35%-50% of the death benefit. This lump sum is taxable and can disqualify a senior from receiving Medicaid. The amount you receive depends on the original value of the policy as well as numerous other factors.

Long-Term Care Insurance 

Some seniors may have long-term care (LTC) insurance, which is more directly relevant to assisted living than life insurance. The number of companies that sell this insurance has shrunk dramatically in recent years. Moreover, getting this insurance tends to be very expensive, and you generally can’t buy it if you already need help with ADLs. Those who are just thinking ahead now and are still relatively young and in good health may wish to look into their options for buying a policy now. Those who already have one of these insurance policies should try to determine how much of their assisted living costs will be covered.

Long-term care policies offer a daily amount of money ($150 per day, for example) to pay for care once the senior needs help with a predetermined number of ADLs. They may only pay out up to a certain dollar amount in a lifetime, for a certain number of years, or after a certain benefit waiting period. In other words, the insurance company will always impose some form of restrictions on payments. You can read an article published by the US Department of Health and Human Services called “What is Long Term Care Insurance,” to learn more about this increasingly rare but often valuable form of assistance.

Family Assistance

In many cases, the children of a senior who needs to move to assisted living will agree to split the costs of their parent’s care. This can be particularly feasible when there are numerous siblings to share the cost. However, splitting the cost between family members will often be a delicate topic for both the children and the parent(s). Even within the same family, there may exist numerous spending and saving philosophies, so each family member needs to approach discussions without judgment and without insisting that anyone give more than they say they can afford. Everyone must be upfront about their other financial obligations.

It’s also vital that the parent(s) know that receiving help does not equal being a burden. In many cases, seniors may be afraid to ask for help because they don’t want to hurt their children’s or grandchildren’s financial prospects.

Public Funding For Assisted Living

In addition to the assets and insurance mentioned above that can be used to fund assisted living, you may be eligible to benefit from a few different forms of public assistance. Some of these are provided through federal or state agencies on the basis of financial need, while others have more to do with an entitlement based on medical status and other factors.

Public Assistance for Assisted Living Expenses

Medicaid Waivers

Medicaid is a joint program run by the federal and state governments. The federal government can require some minimum coverage levels, but the state can supply more comprehensive care if they choose to. One of the ways that states provide extra care, including funding for assisted living services, is through Medicaid waivers. These waivers can have various names, including Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers, 1915(b) Managed Care Waivers, 1115 Demonstration Waivers, and numerous other names related to age, disability, assisted living, and more.

Waiver programs do not usually cover the cost of rent or food, but they can cover the cost of hiring someone to meet your needs for assistance with ADLs. For seniors living in ALFs, the benefit can pay a portion of the assisted living bill. Eligibility for these waivers depends on income and the extent of the individual’s need for help. Each state sets its standards. You’ll need to, at minimum, be eligible for Medicaid in that state, but you may need to have an even lower income than what’s required for Medicaid. Seniors who apply must understand that eligibility doesn’t always equal a benefit. States cap how many waivers they give out each year, so in some states, seniors face waitlists to get this form of help. Learn more about each state’s Medicaid waiver programs.

State Plan Personal Care

In addition to or instead of offering waiver programs, states may choose to include “personal care services” (help with ADLs/IADLs) within their regular Medicaid state health plan. The main difference between waivers and state plan personal care is that state plan personal care is considered an entitlement, whereas a waiver is not. When a Medicaid benefit is an entitlement, every applicant who qualifies gets the benefit. Waivers are not entitlements because they can have long waitlists and yearly caps on the number of waivers offered to applicants each year. 

State plans that include personal care vary widely, just as waivers can. Many states offer state plan personal care services only for those aging in their own homes or a relative’s home. In some cases, assisted living facility residents and other residential settings may be explicitly prohibited from receiving funding under the program. However, some states pay for care within assisted living facilities that Medicaid licenses. If you want to determine whether your state’s Medicaid plan offers personal care as an entitlement, find your state’s Medicaid contact information here. Alternatively, you may be able to contact your local Area Agency on Aging for more information.

Aid and Attendance (A&A)

Aid and Attendance is a financial benefit available to veterans who qualify for the regular Veterans Affairs (VA) pension and those who also need help with ADLs. Not all veterans are eligible for a VA pension, but you should check your eligibility if you are a veteran. Generally, to get a pension, you must be over 65 and have served in active duty for ninety days or more, with at least one day of service occurring during a war. Additionally, those who had dishonorable discharges are not eligible. More regulations and exceptions may also apply, so visiting the VA website for more details is a good idea.

For current recipients of regular VA pension, you may be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit, an addition to the pension that can increase your annual pension amount by $9,000 or more. Unlike Medicaid benefits discussed above, this VA pension benefit comes to the senior directly as a monthly payment. This means the veteran can spend it as they see fit, even in assisted living communities that do not accept Medicaid funding. A VA pension with the Aid and Attendance benefit added won’t total more than about $22,000 annually, maximum, so it won’t fully cover a stay in assisted living. However, it can be combined with other forms of assistance. For example, if you have VA Healthcare, that insurance may pay for some of the services you receive in an assisted living facility even though it won’t pay for room and board.

Optional State Supplements (OSS) and Social Security Benefits

Most seniors are familiar with Social Security as a source of retirement benefits based on previously paid taxes. However, the Social Security Administration can also provide a benefit not directly tied to previous contributions. This benefit, called Supplemental Security Income (SSI), is available to many low-income seniors. State governments can further increase these benefits for seniors in assisted living through a program called Optional State Supplements (OSS).

The additional benefit amount of OSS varies widely by state. Some states don’t offer it at all, while others provide a modest augmentation of around $100 per month, covering only a fraction of the senior’s yearly living costs. Other states offer extensive OSS benefits that will completely cover the cost of assisted living for the resident. Some states’ OSS programs are combined with special assisted living facility regulations that cap how much those facilities can charge low-income residents.

The qualifications for receiving OSS are usually but not always tied to the qualifications for SSI. The eligibility standards for SSI are quite complex, but using the Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool or reading these Income Guidelines can help determine if you could receive SSI. Monthly, SSI may provide up to $914 for an individual or $1,371 for a couple in 2023, depending on income. If you already are or find that you could be receiving SSI, you should determine whether your state provides the OSS benefit discussed above. Your state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) office may be your best source of information on whether or not you personally can get OSS. For more specifics on OSS and which states are most likely to offer it, read “Social Security & Assisted Living: SSI, OSS and How It All Works.”

How to Choose the Right Assisted Living Community for You or Your Loved One

Becoming educated on what’s typically available in an assisted living facility can help you avoid a premature move to a facility that has low costs but that doesn’t truly meet your needs. Below you can learn more about a variety of factors that you should consider when choosing a facility. You’ll also find helpful tips on how these factors affect costs.

Health and Safety Considerations for Assisted Living

Diet and Nutrition

All assisted living facilities provide three meals a day, usually in a restaurant-style dining room, and many also provide snacks. When considering an ALF’s nutritional program, inquire whether or not the facility consults with or has a registered dietitian on staff. Ask about meal times and whether or not residents may choose to take their meals in their apartments. Consider whether the food being offered looks nutritious and appetizing enough to eat regularly. If you have allergies or follow a specific diet, inquire if and how the facility can accommodate your needs.

Facilities that cost more will likely have more appealing, varied, and customizable dining options than their less costly counterparts. When evaluating pricing, keep in mind that diet can have an enormous impact on health over time. You don’t necessarily need to choose the place with the fanciest menu, but you’ll want to carefully consider how the fare will affect you if you eat it on a daily basis. Having tasty options will be especially important if you tend to be a light eater or struggle with appetite.

Private Spaces

You can often choose between studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments in assisted living. You’ll usually be able to move in with a spouse even if the spouse does not need assistance with ADLs. Most assisted living apartments have bathrooms, and many will also have a kitchenette that allows food warming, refrigeration, and the preparation of hot drinks if not actual cooking. If you’re looking for ways to save money, consider renting a studio apartment or a “semi-private” shared room rather than a fully private one. Choosing either of these options can save you several thousand dollars each year.

When considering private rooms, remember to consider their design to determine if it will be safe for you. Are there tight spaces or uneven flooring that will be difficult to navigate? Does the room have sprinklers, smoke detectors, and other fire safety features required in your area? Does the bathroom setup have any fall risks? Is the room equipped with a call button so that you can summon help? A space designed to prevent falls and other emergencies is crucial for most assisted living residents.

Group Spaces and Amenities 

Assisted living facilities are known for maintaining friendly community spaces for their residents. Community spaces include dining halls, party rooms, libraries, gardens, sitting rooms, and activity rooms with televisions, games, and more. Some facilities may also have on-site nail and hair salons. Just as with private rooms, consider the design of public spaces with safety in mind, looking for grab bars, anti-slip surfaces, and other safety features. You’ll want to know that you can confidently navigate social spaces while avoiding injury. Don’t forget to look at elevators and stairs if the facility has multiple levels.

Personal Assistance

All assisted living facilities offer some form of assistance with ADLs and IADLs, and many also offer minimal assistance with medical care like medication assistance, diabetes management, and other more intermittent or relatively easily managed medical needs. Additionally, some facilities can bring additional nurses in for a higher level of care on a case-by-case basis, or some may offer physical therapy on-site. It’s crucial to find out exactly what assistance can and cannot be provided on-site at each facility you visit. It’s also important to ask if there are different prices for different care levels or if there is an all-inclusive fee. Compare the pricing structure and fees of multiple communities, and try to compare these prices to the costs of similar in-home care in your area to get an idea of what’s reasonable.

Transportation and Shopping

Access to transportation and/or help with errands like grocery shopping are crucial to maintaining your health and standard of living. Ensure you can attend doctors’ appointments and other essential services once you move. Most locations will facilitate some safe form of transportation for you. Ask how they calculate the cost of transportation in your bill. Make sure that the transportation provided is genuinely accessible, with low steps up into vehicles and any other features you need. Find out if someone will be available to assist you with shopping or if you and/or your family will be expected to accomplish this independently.

Quality of Life and Happiness Considerations for Assisted Living

In addition to analyzing factors directly affecting health and safety, seniors must evaluate the facilities based on how they may affect social well-being and overall happiness. What constitutes a happy life varies significantly from person to person, but thinking critically about the location, culture, and recreational activities available at a facility can help you decide which place is right for you.

Location

Some seniors wish to find a home closer to where they used to live, while others are less concerned about proximity to their old neighborhood. When looking at your options, consider how your new location will impact the ability of your relatives to visit you. Also, consider whether you need to switch to a different medical provider after moving.

Some seniors choose to move quite far away from their current homes to benefit from a lower cost of living. This makes sense since the state-to-state cost of assisted living can vary by tens of thousands of dollars annually. A major move to an inexpensive area with nearby family members can make the cost of assisted living more manageable without compromising your ability to connect with loved ones.

Culture

As you search for your new home, you may find that some assisted living communities have a large population of people with whom you identify. For example, you may find that some places have a thriving religious group that you’re part of, a large percentage of people who speak your first language, or numerous veterans. If staying connected to a specific cultural group is important to you, consider trying to find a home that already has a significant population of people belonging to that group. Some facilities may be intended specifically for a certain population, such as ALFs associated with a religion, while others may merely have a strong presence of that population. 

Recreation

Seniors, like all people, need to enjoy meaningful activities and interactions with others. Most facilities will have an activities director, designated recreation areas, and a program of activities planned far in advance. Art, dance, music, and cooking classes may be offered, community gardening areas may be available, and outdoor areas may be designed for walking or another form of exercise. Some facilities also allow pets. Teas, brunches, and other social events celebrating holidays may be planned as a joint celebration for residents and their family members. The activity director may also plan outings to local attractions that are accessible to seniors. When looking at facilities, inquire whether there are separate fees for activities and consider how many activities you are likely to be able to enjoy. 

Visit Facilities in Person

You can learn a lot about a facility from phone calls, brochures, and websites, but nothing beats visiting a location in person. Visiting in person, getting an accurate price breakdown brochure, and asking questions on all the health, safety, and happiness topics discussed above will help you understand which facilities are a good fit for you. Even a promising place may be quickly eliminated from your shortlist once you interact with its staff or look at its rooms.

Visiting facilities may be difficult for you and your loved ones because the process can feel rushed and tiring. It will help if you discuss possible costs, needs, and preferences beforehand to understand what to look for clearly. Knowing what you want ahead of time makes evaluating costs and benefits more manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions