How Should You Apply for Assisted Living?

Author: Alicia Centeno

To apply for assisted living, start by understanding the specific requirements of your chosen community. Once you meet these criteria, begin the application process by filling out the necessary paperwork and undergoing any required assessments.

Meet the requirements

Many communities have minimum age requirements that range from 55 to 65 years of age. In addition, your level of care must match what the community provides.

Assisted living gives support with the activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting and taking medications. To qualify, you must need help with at least two of these activities daily. Assisted living communities are not nursing homes, however, and they’re unable to care for those who require extensive medical care or 24-hour supervision. Rehabilitative services such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy are acceptable.

Fill out paperwork

Once you’ve been accepted into the assisted living community of your choice, you’ll meet with an admissions coordinator to fill out some important forms.

While they vary between communities, these forms generally include:

Community applications
Consent to release medical information
Community rules and policies
Care information
Cost and insurance information
Patient consent for care forms

Complete assessments and create a care plan

Once you’ve completed all your forms, you’ll need to complete multiple assessments to help create a care plan that aligns with your needs. These may include:

Level of care assessments: How much daily assistance do you need?
Mental assessments: Do you have any mental health conditions? Are you experiencing any symptoms of dementia?
ADL assessments: What activities of daily living can you do, and which do you need help with? These assessments are generally completed every 4-6 months to ensure you’re continuously receiving the right level of care.
Medication management: Should a staff member handle your medications, or can you manage them yourself?

Once you’ve completed all these assessments, the assisted living community will have a better idea of what your care needs are and how they can help you. They’ll work with you and your family to create a care plan tailored to your needs, preferences and abilities.