About Today's Assisted Living Centers

Assisted living centers are facilities that help and provide a home for people who need some assistance in their daily lives but wish to maintain a measure of independence. These centers serve as a bridge between completely independent living and a nursing home facility. An assisted living center may have many names, but its function is essentially the same: residential care, personal care, adult living facilities, enhanced care, adult home, retirement residence, and so on.

Who lives in an assisted living center?

A resident typically requires help three or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and dressing. The resident may not be able to keep up with housekeeping duties and may even suffer temporary memory loss or confusion, requiring a little extra supervision. He or she is usually elderly, does not need the intensive care provided by nursing homes, but wants to live in a community of peers where they can benefit from a social atmosphere. The social component of assisted living is integral to avoiding the feeling of isolation often felt by senior citizens. Most facilities have a communal dining area where residents can be served up to three meals a day. This way, residents need not bother with cooking but can enjoy the social aspects of eating with friends and neighbors.

What is it like to live in an assisted living center?

Most living centers consist of individual apartments which afford a great deal of privacy. There is no set size for a center: it may be tiny or it may be quite large, housing hundreds of residents.
Many apartments have small kitchens and living areas separate from bedrooms. In addition to mealtimes, there are many social activities planned for residents on a regular basis.

Living centers usually offer a van service, giving its residents who can no longer drive a chance to get out and grocery shop or run other errands. It is important to keep in mind that, unlike nursing homes, assisted living centers do not provide onsite medical services. Residents typically keep using their own doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals, although staff is usually more than happy to help make appointments. Most new facilities are equipped for residents in wheelchairs, and this condition does not usually prevent a senior from enjoying the benefits of assisted living.

If you or a loved one thinks assisted living may be a good option, the best thing to do is to visit one of the many facilities in the community. Representatives are more than willing to give tours and answer any questions pertaining to their assisted living facility.

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