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What Care Is Provided in Assisted Living?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Jackie Smart is an author and freelance content writer. For the past five years, she has written on numerous subjects, especially senior living, drawing on her own experiences of researching assisted living for an elderly relative. Jackie has since written extensively on the subject, focusing on how older adults can find help accessing services and the resources and programs in place to help them finance their long-term care.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
The care provided in assisted living includes housekeeping and laundry services, meal preparation and assistance with the activities of daily living. When older adults can no longer live safely at home or require assistance to live independently, they can find the assistance they need by joining over 815,000 seniors residing in assisted living communities.
Personal Care Services
Approximately 30,600 assisted living facilities exist in the United States, from communities with single-family homes for just a few seniors to multi-acre complexes housing hundreds of residents. These facilities offer amenities, staff and personal care services that older adults require, helping them live as independently as possible. Assisted living communities employ caregivers specially trained in providing care to older adults, with many having a registered or licensed nurse on staff. This enables them to offer specialized care tailored to the needs of each resident.
Assistance With the Activities of Daily Living
Less than 3.5% of adults aged 65 to 74 require assistance with the activities of daily living, but that increases to 20.7% of those aged 85 and older, according to data from 2023. As such, assisted living communities provide the help residents need with the following basic activities of daily life:
- Personal hygiene, such as bathing, grooming and dental hygiene
- Dressing
- Ambulating and mobility
- Toileting
- Continence
- Eating
Other Services Assisted Living Offers
In addition to assistance with personal care, many assisted living communities offer other services that support residents and make their lives more comfortable.
Medication Management
Facilities providing medication management help organize pill schedules and ensure seniors take their medication as prescribed.
Dining Services and Meal Preparation
Typically, residents gather in a communal dining room for three daily meals, encouraging socialization and creating a sense of community. A dietitian often oversees the menus and chefs cater to dietary needs, such as reduced fat, low sodium and pureed food.
Transportation
Transportation services help residents go shopping, attend medical appointments and participate in off-site excursions.
Housekeeping, Laundry and Maintenance
Maintenance, housekeeping and laundry services remove the burden of household chores from seniors while ensuring living spaces remain clean and comfortable.
Social and Recreational Activities
Assisted living facilities organize activities and events to help residents remain physically, mentally and socially engaged with the community and their peers. These may include age-appropriate fitness classes, games, arts and crafts, holiday and birthday celebrations and group excursions.