Assisted living provides personalized care for seniors in a residential setting, along with activities and services to make life more enjoyable.
“Assisted living offers a level of safety and security as well as peace of mind for families,” says Niki Gewirtz, who served in leadership roles at assisted living communities for over a decade before joining A Place for Mom. “So they’ll have around-the-clock caregivers, nursing oversight, and assistance with personal care needs that seniors may need on a daily basis that keep them from being able to live at home safely.”
Seniors in assisted living can also expect nutritious meals, a wide range of social activities to cater to a variety of interests, and a sense of community.
While each community is different, assisted living offers services and amenities to focus on important aspects of senior wellness, including physical health, intellectual stimulation, and social connection. These three foundational pillars help slow cognitive decline and keep seniors healthier and happier longer.
Many facilities offer comfort and convenience and eliminate the need for transportation. Assisted living amenities vary among communities, but some may include:
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Assisted living is a popular care type with a growing demand. According to the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA NCAL), more than 818,000 seniors live in an assisted living facility. While other senior care types may offer similar services to assisted living, there are some important differences worth noting.
| Services | Assisted living | Nursing homes | Memory care | Independent living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meal services | x | x | x | x |
| Housekeeping and laundry services | x | x | x | x |
| Social activities | x | x | x | x |
| Exercise and wellness classes | x | x | x | x |
| Medication management | x | x | x | |
| Help with daily activities (ADLs) | x | x | x | |
| Specialized care for patients with memory loss | x | x | ||
| 24-hour care and supervision | x | x | ||
| Secured entrances and exits to prevent wandering | x | x | ||
| Transportation to appointments | x | x | x | |
| Memory-enhancing therapies | x | |||
| Unique facility layout and design to reduce confusion | x |
Assisted living and nursing homes differ in many ways, although some people may think of these two senior care types as synonymous. Both assisted living and nursing homes offer housing, meal services, and help with ADLs, such as bathing, toileting, and walking.
One of the biggest differences is that seniors in assisted living don’t require the skilled nursing services that people in nursing homes do. While they may have some health problems, seniors in assisted living don’t require 24-hour medical care and supervision.
Like assisted living, nursing homes also offer activities for residents, but assisted living communities usually have more diverse options to cater to all tastes and preferences, including exercise classes, cooking workshops, outings to theaters, and more.
Additionally, assisted living accommodations may feel homier and more spacious, while nursing home residents often have to share a room.
“Assisted living doesn’t have that clinical feel that you’re going to have in a skilled nursing environment. It’s a very homelike setting. People bring all their own furniture and belongs to make their apartment feel like home,” says Gewirtz.
The cost of care at nursing homes is also significantly higher when compared to assisted living. This is because seniors at nursing homes often need a higher level of care than what’s offered at assisted living. In fact, a physician’s prescription is a requirement for nursing home admission.
Like assisted living, memory care is also a residential facility that provides meals and help with daily activities. The main difference between assisted living and memory care is the specialized support memory care facilities offer people with memory loss.
Assisted living may be a good solution for some seniors with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s. However, as their symptoms progress, they’ll likely need the support offered at memory care facilities.
Memory care staff receive regular, thorough training in dementia care to help prevent and manage difficult dementia behaviors, like sundown syndrome. Memory care also provides a secure environment with locked entrances and spaces designed to prevent wandering, along with memory-enhancing therapies to help seniors keep their cognitive skills as long as possible. That increased security, plus specialized staff and more one-on-one time between caregivers and residents, makes memory care facilities significantly more expensive when compared to assisted living.
Keep in mind that many assisted living facilities also offer memory care. These communities often have a separate wing designated for residents with memory loss, where trained staff provide the dementia-specific care and therapies that elderly adults with memory loss need. The transition to memory care may be easier for these seniors as they’re able to stay in the same community even as their disease progresses.
Read more: Memory Care Architecture and Design: A Human-Centered Approach
Independent living and assisted living cater to different senior needs. Both senior living options offer safe, senior-friendly housing and amenities, with social activities, outings, and restaurant-style meals. However, independent living differs from assisted living in that it doesn’t provide help with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and grooming. This means independent living is often less expensive than assisted living.
Independent living is for older adults who can live on their own but may desire convenience, community, and peace of mind. Independent living communities provide many on-site opportunities for social engagement without the difficulty of arranging transportation. It also offers a maintenance-free lifestyle in which seniors can choose to delegate household chores like laundry and housekeeping, meaning they can spend more time pursuing their passions.
Home care offers assistance for seniors who wish to age in place, and it provides support and respite for caregivers. Home care aides are trained in senior care and can provide companionship, help with ADLs, light housekeeping, cooking, transportation, and more.
However, home care differs from assisted living when it comes to socialization, intellectual stimulation, and cost.
Caring for an aging loved one at home may also require modifications to make their home safe and accessible. These could include simple additions, such as grab bars, to more costly and difficult updates, including ramps, wider doorways, chair lifts, walk-in showers, and elevators.
Back to topAssisted living offers a social, active, and maintenance-free lifestyle for older adults who need some help with daily tasks. Assisted living residents receive the care they need while maintaining independence in a vibrant community that offers many opportunities to stay engaged.
Seniors have different needs as they age. Some may simply need medication reminders and prepared meals, while others may require help with bathing, dressing, or other daily activities. Assisted living facilities customize care to meet residents’ unique needs.
Assisted living communities evaluate potential residents’ cognitive and physical needs by conducting a thorough, in-person assessment before seniors move in.
Gewirtz notes that communities can do assessments a few different ways:
“A lot of nurses actually like to do the assessment in the senior’s home because that way they get a sense of their current surroundings and how they’re currently living,” says Gewirtz.
Care coordination is an important service offered at assisted living facilities. Assisted living staff maintain strong relationships with area physicians and other health care providers to make sure residents receive the care they need.
Care coordination at assisted living facilities may include:
Safety is often a concern for families of aging adults who live on their own. Seniors in assisted living can expect a safe environment with controlled access and security protocols.
Assisted living facilities have staff available 24 hours a day in case residents need help. Communities may have alert systems that allow residents to quickly get emergency help with a push of a button. Security systems may include cameras in common areas or motion sensors in private apartments to detect falls, a major health risk for elderly adults. In fact, one in four seniors will fall each year, according to the CDC.
Once staff understand a resident’s risk, they have several ways to help them stay safe, including the following:
A maintenance-free lifestyle is a key benefit of assisted living. Aging adults who struggle to keep up with cooking, housework, and home maintenance will find the support they need at an assisted living facility. Instead of spending time on burdensome chores, many seniors find they can pursue their interests and enjoy life more fully at an assisted living facility.
Seniors in assisted living can expect:
Assisted living facilities understand that good nutrition is an important part of overall health. This is why assisted living meals are far from bland or boring. In fact, residents enjoy restaurant-style meals that include fresh, flavorful ingredients and fit their dietary preferences and needs. For example, communities may tailor menus to cater to the health needs of seniors with medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or dysphagia. Some assisted living facilities may also offer vegetarian or kosher menus.
Aging seniors who live on their own may lose interest in food. While some health conditions may lead to appetite loss, loneliness, or even a lack of energy to cook may also be factors, especially for people cooking for one.
Dining at an assisted living facility can be a social experience for seniors who enjoy sharing good conversation over meals. Facilities offer communal dining, making mealtime a fun and comforting part of the assisted living lifestyle. Seniors gather in a dining room to share meals, talk about their day, and make meaningful connections. Having someone to share a meal with often encourages seniors to eat better and make healthier food choices. Many communities also offer in-room dining for residents who prefer a quiet dinner.
Read more: Fresh Ways to Enjoy Senior Living Dining Services
It’s no secret that social connection and engagement lead to happier lives. But did you know that social isolation can actually harm both mental and physical health?
Nearly 13.8 million seniors live alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s not uncommon for older adults who live alone to feel lonely. Changes in family dynamics — such as divorce or the loss of loved ones — along with chronic illness, hearing loss, poor mobility, and lack of adequate transportation are just a few of the reasons seniors may feel isolated.
Loneliness can lead to habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and poor nutrition that negatively affect health. It can also increase someone’s risk for depression, dementia, and heart disease, among other health conditions.
Assisted living offers plenty of opportunities for seniors to stay physically active, learn new skills, and engage with like-minded friends and peers. Enrichment programs and activities at assisted living facilities appeal to all kinds of interests, including sports, music, crafts, religious and spiritual practices, and more. While programs and activities vary from one community to the next, many assisted living facilities offer a wide range of options that allow residents with different levels of cognitive and physical skills to participate and feel included.
Read more: Beyond Bingo: The 50+ Best Activities for Seniors in Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities offer a variety of room sizes and floor plans. Many communities offer studios and one-, two-, and even three-bedroom apartments. Residents may choose the accommodation type that best fits their needs, budget, and lifestyle.
Assisted living communities usually allow residents to bring personal furniture and items as desired. Residents’ rooms usually include a private bathroom, and some may feature a kitchenette for seniors who enjoy cooking and can do so safely. Accommodations are designed for senior safety with accessibility features, such as grab bars in tubs and showers, nonslip flooring, and wide doors for seniors who need a wheelchair or walker.
Many facilities allow couples to live in the same apartment. However, as you research different communities, it’s important to check what assisted living options for couples are available. In some cases, seniors with different care needs may not live together. For example, one person may need memory care while the other doesn’t. In this case, the resident with memory loss may live in a nearby memory care wing, and their spouse can conveniently join them for meals and activities.
Seniors moving to assisted living may also be able to bring their beloved pets. However, pet-friendly assisted living facilities may have pet policies, rules, and restrictions, and it’s important to understand these before moving.
Seniors who wish to bring their furry companions to assisted living should ask about:
Read more: Finding Senior Living for Elderly Couples
Back to topIt’s common for assisted living staff to provide help with bathing, dressing, toileting, bed transfers, and more. Even if your loved one does need some assistance with personal care tasks, you may be wondering if they’re truly in need of assisted living. In this case, the frequency of assistance may help you determine whether assisted living is the right fit.
“A lot of times it comes down to what things can be managed by the resident themselves versus what kind of things cannot or what can be scheduled versus unscheduled,” explains Gewirtz. “If a senior needs shower assistance three times a week, that can be scheduled with a home caregiver. But, if they need assistance with going to the bathroom or transfer assistance, you can’t schedule that. That’s where assisted living can be a great option, because there’ll be a caregiver there to help them anytime.”
In other cases, older adults in assisted living may have a health condition that limits their ability to live independently. Common health conditions among assisted living residents include high blood pressure, arthritis, heart disease, and early dementia.
Assisted living may be the right choice for your aging loved one if they:
Before you determine whether assisted living is the right choice for your aging loved one, it’s important to understand the requirements for admission at an assisted living facility. Unlike skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities don’t require a physician’s prescription for admission.
While each facility has their own admission process, most will:
Some families may struggle with the decision to transition a parent to senior assisted living, but there may come a time when it’s no longer safe for a senior to live on their own. Moving can be very emotional, and it’s normal for seniors or family members to express that they’re not ready.
“Then we ask, well, what does ready look like? Because that will be different for every family,” Gewirtz says.
Some families want to wait until their loved one requires a care need that they can’t meet at home, such as incontinence care. For others, they may want one last holiday season at home with their parent.
“If they’re waiting for a crisis, they’re waiting too long,” says Gewirtz, who goes on to encourage families to be proactive.
According to Gewirtz, many families work with A Place for Mom after having to make a quick decision on a community that turned out to be the wrong fit.
“Be proactive, not reactive. Start touring now, even if you think you have some time to get Mom or Dad on board with making the decision. [That way] if something changed tomorrow, you’d have a viable option that you’re considering that will be a good fit for them,” says Gewirtz.
Being proactive will also likely be better for your parent in the long run. They can be part of the decision and move when they’re comfortable, rather than after a hospital discharge.
As you call or visit your loved one, pay attention to signs that your aging relative may need help.
A decline in cognition — the ability to think clearly, learn new skills, and remember — may lead to unsafe and sometimes life-threatening behaviors. When visiting a parent, look for signs of cognitive impairment:
You may also notice changes in your loved one’s appearance and hygiene that indicate it may be time to talk about a different living arrangement. For example, you may notice your parent has unintentionally lost weight quickly. Sudden weight loss in seniors could be a sign of a serious medical problem, but it may also signal depression, cognitive problems, or behavioral changes that impede good nutrition, like limited mobility or financial constraints.
If a loved one who’s typically well-groomed looks disheveled, or if their usually clean house seems cluttered, dirty, or disorganized, these could be warning signs that it may be time for assisted living.
Families who are caring for an aging loved one at home may find living with their parent isn’t working out, and they may realize this living arrangement is hurting their relationship. Or, they may reach a point when the stress of caregiving is affecting the caregiver’s health.
Caring for an aging relative is a major commitment that can sometimes cause friction. For caregivers, it’s important to consider several factors:
If you can’t care for an aging parent any longer, it may be time to consider assisted living. While many caregivers feel guilty about their decision, remember that moving your loved one to senior living may result in improved relationships, health, and quality of life for both yourself and your aging loved one.
Read more: The Worrying Facts About Caregiver Health and Stress
Back to topAssisted living costs vary from one community to the next. Key factors determining elder care costs include location, community amenities, apartment size, and how much help your loved one needs. Different pricing models also affect costs. For example, while some assisted living facilities may be all-inclusive, others charge for services a la carte based on senior needs.
The median monthly cost of assisted living in the U.S. is about $4,807, according to A Place for Mom’s 2023 Cost of Long-Term Care and Senior Living Report. However, costs may be as high as $6,000 a month or more depending on location. With this range in price, it’s no wonder that some people feel more prepared than others.
“A lot of times, you do get the sticker shock, but that’s where our Senior Living Advisors can be really helpful. [They help families] consider other areas that may be less expensive, or companion suites, or looking at a large studio instead of a one-bedroom,” Gewirtz says.
If you’ve previously received home care or are trying to choose between home care and assisted living, it’s important to understand the value of what your loved one receives in assisted living. What you might pay a caregiver is much more expensive than what you’d pay for the 24-hour care that’s available in assisted living. Gewirtz estimates that having 24-hour home care would be three to four times the cost of an assisted living community.
“Figure what it would cost for your parent to stay at home with full-time care — equivalent to what she would get in a community — plus meals, housekeeping, utilities, and included transportation,” Gewirtz recommends.
Typically, an assisted living base fee will cover housing, utilities, meals and snacks, weekly housekeeping, transportation to doctor’s appointments, and social activities, although some outings or amenities may cost extra. Additional expenses may include help with personal care, internet, beauty and barber services, laundry, and pet fees.
Read more: How Much Does Assisted Living Cost? Factors and Price Structures
Once you’ve decided assisted living is the right choice for your loved one, it’s time to make a plan to finance care. Do your research to understand options to save on assisted living costs.
While many families rely on savings, there are other options that can help your family pay for assisted living care, including:
Read more: How to Pay for Assisted Living: Cost & Payment Options
Back to topYou may feel overwhelmed with choices when it’s time to find an assisted living facility for your loved one. Seniors and families can choose from small, residential environments to resort-like communities with high-end finishes and gourmet dining. So how do you choose the right option for your aging parent?
Start by prioritizing your loved one’s needs and preferences. Think about the type of help your aging parent needs and how often they might need it.
Consider these questions:
Then, consider these factors as you choose an assisted living facility for a loved one:
Costs are a significant factor to consider when choosing an assisted living community. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to help you understand how costs are calculated and whether move-in specials are available.
Ultimately, there’s no substitute for visiting a community and experiencing a typical day. Touring an assisted living facility provides opportunities to see the building, assess cleanliness, witness staff interactions with residents, try a meal, participate in activities, and talk to other residents. Most assisted living facilities also offer virtual tours if an in-person visit isn’t possible.
Gewirtz recommends touring several communities yourself and then bringing your parent to your top two choices, keeping in mind which communities are most likely to appeal to them.
“We’re not our care needs,” says Gewirtz. “[It’s about] determining who they are as a person and what makes them tick.”
Back to topMoving a parent to assisted living can be an emotional experience, and you may be dreading the conversation with your loved one. You may feel guilty or nervous about the move and wonder whether your senior loved one will adapt. Your family may not agree with your decision, or you may be struggling with how to talk with your parent about the move to assisted living. Downsizing and packing may also be stressful, overwhelming, and time-consuming.
But while elder care is often a difficult topic, it’s one that many families ultimately can’t avoid. Taking a step-by-step approach can ease anxiety and make the move smoother for your family and your aging loved one.
It’s often best to have conversations regularly about senior care before an emergency situation arises. Planning ahead will give you and your family time to think about options and discuss what you need to do to prepare.
However, if your aging parent needs immediate help, it’s time to hold a family meeting. Consider your family dynamics to decide who to include. If your senior loved one is in good mental health, it’s probably a good idea to involve them.
Set aside dedicated time, without distractions, to discuss their needs and potential solutions. It’s also important to be open to having a series of conversations before your family agrees on the right senior care choice.
Here are some tips for talking to your parent about assisted living:
Helping your senior loved one downsize before moving to an assisted living facility can be an emotional task. Belongings may be filled with treasured memories that you and your parent don’t want to let go of.
But before you decide what to take or what to leave behind, it’s important to understand the space your loved one will have after they move. It can be helpful to ask for a floor plan and dimensions of the assisted living apartment before moving day.
Assisted living accommodations often come furnished, but many communities allow residents to bring personal items. Bringing a few cherished pieces may make your loved one’s new space feel more like home. It’s also a good idea to ask what appliances are provided. For example, you might want to ask if apartments are equipped with a mini-fridge, coffee maker, or microwave.
When packing, consider bringing the following:
If you’re stressed about moving day, plan ahead and consider finding expert assistance to help with this major transition.
Start with these tips to make moving a little easier:
Once you’ve chosen a community, staff may be able to refer you to move managers or help remove the moving boxes from the room after you’ve got everything unpacked, says Gewirtz.
Before moving day, remember to also:
Read more: Checklist for Moving Elderly Parents: 6 Practical Things to Consider When Moving an Aging Loved One
Back to topNo matter how prepared you and your loved are for the move to assisted living, it’ll take time to adjust to this new living arrangement. It’s important to be realistic about your expectations and understand that your parent’s fears and apprehensions — and your own — are normal.
Your family member will need to adjust to a new home and routine. They may also feel emotional about leaving their old residence and belongings. It may take a few months before your loved one fully feels at home.
So how do you help ease your parent’s transition to assisted living?
Gewirtz also tells families to be ready for pleasant surprises when they go to see a loved one.
“What I love is when families come to visit, and [they find out] Mom or Dad’s on the bus tour,” says Gewirtz, explaining that it gives family a sense of relief to know that their loved one can enjoy themselves.
Back to topBecause there are so many options and factors to consider, determining whether an assisted living community meets your loved one’s needs may seem like an overwhelming task. Our Senior Living Advisors can help connect you with assisted living facilities in your area. These local senior care experts can help you consider your aging relative’s needs, your expectations for care, and your financial resources to find the right care for your loved one.
Back to topAssisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
The score shown is the overall experience rating which is an average of the reviews submitted for those communities. The overall experience rating is a star rating that ranges from 1 being the lowest to 5 being the highest.
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Top states for Assisted Living