Over 800,000 people are living in residential care facilities. Of those facilities, over 30,000 are assisted living.
Assisted living facilities (ALF) are now a preferred choice over nursing homes when possible. If you find yourself or your loved one in need of a residential care community to stay at, then an assisted living facility might be a good fit.
What is an assisted living facility? What does assisted living provide? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Assisted Living?
An assisted living facility is for older people who are no longer fully independent. However, they don’t need the round-the-clock care that a nursing home provides.
What Does Assisted Living Provide?
Assisted living facilities provide assisted living and memory care. They offer apartments or rooms to residents to promote as much independence as possible. There is sometimes a shared common area so that residents can build community with each other.
You will find a range of services at an assisted living facility. These services include things like meals, laundry, daily exercise, and housekeeping. Residents will also receive help with personal care and remembering medications.
Most assisted living facilities also seek to provide a rich environment that’s beneficial to physical and mental health. You’ll find a host of activities like planned trips to the theatre, book clubs, and game nights.
What to Look For With Assisted Living
The federal government heavily regulates nursing home facilities. Assisted living facilities aren’t. Only the state they operate in regulates them at all.
Without much government oversight, some facilities have failed to provide the quality care due to their residents. A study by the Government Accountability Office found numerous cases of abuse and unexplained deaths.
This lack of regulation and oversight means that you must do thorough research into any facility you’re considering. Residential care is a great housing choice for you or your loved one, but be sure to ask plenty of questions first.
Are all the rooms and bathrooms private? Is there special care provided for Alzheimer’s or dementia? What happens if a resident’s needs change?
Also, be sure to schedule a visit and tour the facilities. Talk with staff and other residents to get a feel for the place and gauge how happy others are.
While you tour, make a note of the cleanliness of the facility and grounds. Check to see if there are handrails and call buttons in the rooms and bathrooms in case of an accident.
Remember, you or your loved one will be living here as their home. If you find anything that makes you feel uncertain or raises red flags, then move on to a different assisted living facility.
Your Happiness And Health Matter
With not much oversight over assisted living facilities, you must do your due diligence to research. You or your loved one deserve safe living conditions and to be happy. Choose a facility that keeps a close watch over its residents’ health and wellbeing.
What does assisted living provide? It allows older people to retain some of their independence while also still offering assistance.
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