Assisted Living Facilities ? What Are They?

Assisted Living facilities are generally for person's 60 years of age and older. Typical candidates need assistance with "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs), but wish to live as independently as possible. Assisted Living communities exist to bridge the gap between seniors that can live independently and skilled nursing homes.

Assisted living facilities provide helpful services such as:

1. Eating,

2. Bathing,

3. Dressing,

4. Grooming,

5. Laundry,

6. Housekeeping,

7. Assistance with medications.

While Board and Care facilities are usually in a private residential home, Assisted Living facilities are larger structures often arranged as senior living communities. These communities can contain as many as 400 residents or as few as 25 seniors. Residents of assisted living communities usually meet in a dining room together with other residents for meals.

A person designated as the 'Activities Director' oversees a key area in the assisted living community - Social activities. The Activities Director typically arranges daily options for residents including outings, crafts, dances, music, educational classes, seminars, and other opportunities. All activities are designed to encourage physical and mental stimulation.

Assisted Living facilities create a care plan for each individual resident upon admission. The care plan details the agreed upon personalized services required by the resident and guaranteed to be provided by the facility. The plan is updated regularly to assure that the resident receives the appropriate care as his or her condition changes.

Assisted Living communities are closely involved in the health needs of their residents. They often have a person designated to oversee this called a 'Health Care Director'. They coordinate the monitoring of health related issues involving medication, diet, personal hygiene, socialization and mental acuity to assist the senior and their family as they interact with health care professionals. If a decline is noted in a specific area, family and health care professionals are consulted by the Health Care Director to resolve issues. Often, because of their experience, unexpected emergency health issues are avoided, as signs of a decline recognized and acted upon early.

Residents can live at 'Assisted Living' communities for many years, even as their health declines considerably. Many offer hospice care and end of life assistance. If you are considering senior care options, assisted living facilities are definitely an option worth looking into.

Alex Jensen is with http://www.careplacement.com - a free placement service for Southern California. Care Placement's staff can review your care requirements to determine whether skilled nursing care, assisted living facilities or board and care homes are a viable option for seniors.

---

Compare Nursing Homes

Finding the best nursing home is easier than you might... Read More

Using The Proper Wheelchair Will Make Your Everyday Life Easier

If you have an injury or a health problem that... Read More

Stair Lift Buying Guide

There is no doubt that having a stair lift in... Read More

The Best Investment You Can Make Right Now: Long Term Care Insurance

Don't think you need it? Consider this: a full 50%... Read More

Stairlifts ? Take the Struggle Out of Climbing the Stairs

Buying a stairlift can have huge benefits for your quality... Read More

Marketing, Selling, and Serving the Older Adult, Senior Citizens, Family Caregivers

Are your clients pleased by the fine quality service that... Read More

Arizona Assisted Living Homes -- The Alternative to High Priced Senior Care

The cost of skilled nursing care is slowly rising. Currently,... Read More

Retiring Abroad and Leaving the Grey Skies of the UK

Retiring abroad needs careful planning. Not all countries have the... Read More

What About Tennesse Dept. of Human Services Abuse of the Elderly and Their Families?

PART I: Physical Abuse of the Elderly vs. Tennessee DHS... Read More

Helping Caregivers Get Comfortable Asking For Help

Becoming a care giver might not have been a conscious... Read More

Advocate For Senior Citizens ? Protecting Against Abuse and Fraud

Ruth is 87 years old this year and has been... Read More

Solitary Confinement -- for Life

Sixty-five year old Arthur Jones served a self-imposed life sentence... Read More

Senior Living: 5 Ways to Help Reduce the Risk of Falling

Every year we hear stories of seniors falling, ending up... Read More

Senior Care for Alzheimer?s

As a person ages, a certain amount of memory loss... Read More

Angels Are Reaching Out to the Elderly

I am reminded time after time of the profound effect... Read More

Scaling Down (almost) Painlessly

Moving to a smaller house or apartment in a retirement... Read More

Assisted Living Facilities ? What Are They?

Assisted Living facilities are generally for person's 60 years of... Read More

Introducing the Best Available Long Term Care Policy Guarantee

If you're 60 to 70 years old ... or have... Read More

Who Wants to End Up in a Nursing Home? NO ONE!

As a long-term care consultant for seniors and their families... Read More

If Using The Stairs Has Become A Daily Struggle, A Stair lift Could Change Your Life

Using stairs is an everyday nightmare for many people. As... Read More

Caring for Aging Relatives

It happens somewhat slowly in the beginning, maybe with a... Read More

When the Box is Empty

The King had a modest kingdom. He was Danish. This... Read More

Just Give Them a Lot of Love and You?ll be Fine

It was right about this time, 19 years ago. My... Read More

Stair Lifts - Straight and Curved Rails

There are two types of stairlift. Straight and curved. The... Read More

Board and Care Homes ? What Are They?

Board and Care homes (also known as RCFE's - Residential... Read More