Assisted Living Facilities are a type of senior care community for seniors who want to live independently but require various amounts of assistance with performing daily tasks. Assisted living communities are non-medical and typically do not have nurses or doctors on staff. Caregivers at assisted living facilities are first aid and CPR certified and trained in assisting senior with activities of daily living, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, grooming, toileting, and dressing. Often, the biggest benefactor of assisted living communities is the family member that can sleep easy knowing their loved one is being supervised 24 hour a day and a plan is in place in case of emergencies.
Most assisted living communities have private and semi-private, or shared rooms. The living environment is very lax without set schedules for meal times or other activities. Residents of assisted living facilities are encouraged, not required, to participate in activities such as bingo games, movie screenings, exercise classes, or other physical and mental developmental programs. Although not all communities offer free transportation services, most assisted living communities will offer some form of solution to transport residents to and from medical appointments, religious events, and/or group outings organized by the community.
The cost of assisted living communities ranges based on a few criteria including location, amenities, and level of care (often determined by number of staff members). Some facilities will also offer a 24 hour night aide who is designated to be awake and wandering the community, looking after residents, throughout the night. Typically, assisted living communities are paid for by private funds of seniors or their family members. Medicare, Social Security, and other government programs typically do not cover the costs of care at assisted living facilities.
