What is Assisted Living

As the name implies, assisted living facilities "assist" seniors with activities of daily living (also known as ADLs) like cleaning, bathing, or preparing and eating meals. Assisted living facilities — also known as assisted living communities — will provide medical care services in addition to daily care, ranging from simple medication administration to the type of highly skilled nursing care which previously was only associated with nursing homes. 

Adults aged 65 and older are expected to comprise as much as 20% of the United States population by the year 2030. As this growing senior population reaches retirement age and beyond, there comes a high interest in the types of available care options. Of those options, assisted living is becoming a popular choice for aging adults. Assisted living communities provide a living situation that suits both current and future care needs for seniors. But what is assisted living? Here’s what you need to know.

Assisted living communities are broadly defined as housing for seniors or people with disabilities that provide housekeeping, meals, and medical assistance as needed. But while this definition provides a basic understanding of what you can expect from an assisted living community, there’s so much more beneath this surface-level description.

With vibrant communities, quality care, and active and independent living, assisted living facilities help seniors age in place in an environment where they are able to get the most out of their golden years.

Personalized Assistance

What are ADLs?

One of the most beneficial aspects of assisted living for residents is getting help with activities of daily living, or ADLs. Examples of ADLs include:

• Housekeeping
• Laundry
• Making meals
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Other personal hygiene practices

While these ADLs may sound like simple, everyday tasks, they can become difficult for seniors to complete on their own as they age. Having assistance for daily activities helps to alleviate stress and make a senior's life easier. Assistance also relieves the need to focus solely on day-to-day tasks, thereby freeing up both time and energy for different activities.

Many adults over the age of 65 require some level of assistance with ADLs, though the tasks they need help with and the level of assistance varies from person to person. For example, a senior who lives at home and can perform most ADLs on their own may still need help taking care of yard work or housekeeping that requires heavy lifting and sustained physical labor.

In many cases, assistance comes in the shape of an informal caregiver, such as an adult child, neighbor, or friend. Seniors with mental or physical health conditions may need more assistance with ADLs at younger ages, causing a family caregiver without training to feel overwhelmed.

Regardless of their current ability, many seniors find that, as they grow older, they need some level of help with these daily tasks. That’s where formal care options come into play. These typically include one of the following:

• In-home care
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Assisted living communities

While many seniors initially prefer an in-home care option, they often find that after a while, they miss social interactions and a sense of community. Skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes, aren't a popular choice with seniors who still have high levels of independence. Therefore, assisted living communities become a perfect option for seniors who want the best of both worlds.

Benefits of Community Living

What types of care are available in assisted living communities?

In addition to tending to general wellness and assisting with ADLs, assisted living communities usually employ skilled nursing staff, physical, behavioral, and mental health therapists, coordinators for community activities, physicians by appointment, and more. All these dedicated professionals work to provide personalized, specialized care for assisted living residents.

The senior population in the United States is growing rapidly as thousands of Baby Boomers reach retirement age every single day. For many of them, having a place to live that can provide a spectrum of care to meet their needs as they age is a priority. Assisted living communities are happy to provide what they are looking for.

"In 2019, there were 54.1 million people age 65 and older (up from 39.6 million in 2009). The population is projected to reach 80.8 million by 2040 and 94.7 million by 2060." (Administration on Aging)

While the basic definition of assisted living is clear, it's important to understand that assisted living communities vary from facility to facility. With that in mind, the differences in care services between communities needs to be considered carefully. For example, one community may offer specialized memory care services, while another may not.

Here are some helpful questions to ask on a tour of an assisted living community.

If you’re a senior who may be at risk of a health condition that requires specialized care, or if you’re researching options for a loved one with unique, specific needs, it’s critical to look closely at your care requirements and ensure that the community you are looking at can provide the services needed to age in place.

For examples of care options offered by assisted living facilities, here are the services offered by various Vista Springs communities:

Rehabilitation

Recovering from injuries and illnesses can be hard for anyone, but for aging and elderly adults, returning to their maximum level of function can seem impossible. Rehabilitation services focus on restoring every aspect of a person who has undergone a life-changing event, such as a major injury or surgery. Rehabilitation can include:

• Physical ability
• Mental and emotional wellness
• Speech and language capacity

Memory Care

Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia require different levels of care than other aging adults. From seniors who haven't yet developed any symptoms to seniors already within a stage of memory disease, memory care assistance is an essential part of assisted living care services.

Assisted living communities that offer memory care often have buildings and staff that are focused on providing comfort, safety, and treatment throughout the development of memory loss—empowering seniors with the best possible quality of life available.

Hospice Care

In the final stages of life, hospice care aims to provide comfort, support, and counsel to patients and their families. Hospice care staff work to bring peace to those nearing the end of life.

Palliative Care

Many assisted living communities are adding palliative care teams to their staff, or making arrangements for personal palliative care teams to work within assisted living homes. Palliative care focuses on relieving pain and managing symptoms for a serious illness that doesn't necessarily mean end-of-life.

Learn more about Hospice & Palliative care in Assisted Living

Respite Care

For caretakers of seniors such as adult children, extended family, or friends, care can be taxing and stressful even if they take pride and joy in the role. Respite care offers the chance for seniors to relax and enjoy a stay at an assisted living community while their caretakers take some time for themselves.

Once again, different assisted living communities may offer different types of care services. Make sure you understand the extent of the services offered at the communities you’re considering before you make your final decision.

The difference between Respite Care & Rehabilitation

Holistic Care Options

Some assisted living facilities offer residents non-medical therapies, or holistic care, in conjunction with medical care services. Seniors enjoy these care services as they don't involve additional medications and invasive medical procedures.

Holistic therapies have a broad approach to health that encompasses a variety of beliefs and needs. Some options found in assisted living communities include:

Aromatherapy

Because of our brain chemistry, our sense of smell is closely linked to our memory, which means smells can evoke strong emotions. Aromatherapy is a type of holistic care that uses aromatic substances known as essential oils, which are derived from plants like flowers, grasses, fruits, and tree bark and are highly concentrated. They promote wellness for a number of conditions, such as anxiety, pain, and sleeplessness.

Color Therapy

Similarly, our brains react to certain colors in ways that are leveraged through color therapy. For example, blues and greens tend to be calming and healing, while reds can stimulate appetite. By working a color therapy holistic care plan into the environment of an assisted living community, such as in the paint color, residents receive the benefits every day. 

Music Therapy

Music is a holistic care approach that can stimulate sensory and cognitive areas of the brain. Helping seniors both mentally and physically, music therapy can include singing, listening, and moving to music that is tailored to assist with things like pain management and memory disease.

As the population of aging adults grows in the United States, more senior living communities are offering complementary treatment options in addition to best-in-class medical care. When selecting an assisted living community, be sure to look for those that offer a number of diverse and holistic care and wellness options.

Cost Considerations