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What is Assisted Living? Services, Cost, and Benefits

Find assisted living options

What is assisted living?

Assisted living is personalized care for seniors provided in a residential setting, along with activities and services to make life more enjoyable. Assisted living facilities offer nutritious meals, a wide range of social activities that cater to a variety of interests, and help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and toileting. While residents may have some health problems, seniors in assisted living don’t require the 24-hour medical care that nursing homes provide.

 

Assisted living offers a safe environment with services and amenities that benefit residents physically, intellectually and socially, slowing cognitive decline and keeping seniors healthier and happier longer.

AMENITIES

What You Should Know About Assisted Living Services, Amenities, and Benefits

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CHOOSING CARE

7 Benefits of Assisted Living: Friendship, Food, Peace of Mind, and More

Assisted living communities offer stimulating activities, unique therapies, and restaurant-style dining to keep seniors social and engaged.

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Beyond Bingo: The 50+ Best Activities for Seniors in Assisted Living

Assisted living communities feature activities that keep seniors engaged mentally and physically to improve overall heal...

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Pet-Friendly Assisted Living: What to Know

Many assisted living communities allow pets, but rules and restrictions may apply. Read about the benefits of assisted l...

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Signs it may be time for assisted living

Some families may struggle with the decision to consider assisted living for their loved one, but there may come a time when it’s no longer safe for a senior to live on their own. Look for signs of cognitive decline or changes in your loved one’s appearance and hygiene. Families who are caring for an aging loved one at home may find they need more help or realize this living arrangement is hurting their relationship. Or, they may reach a point when the stress of caregiving is affecting the caregiver’s health.

 

Beginning the discussion and search for assisted living when your loved one can be part of the decision is preferable to waiting until a crisis and moving, for example, after a hospital discharge. Read on to learn more about signs it’s time to consider assisted living and how to have conversations with your loved one about the transition.

AGING PARENTS

11 Signs It Might Be Time for Assisted Living

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CAREGIVER SUPPORT

How to Talk to Elderly Parents About Assisted Living

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Assisted living services and features

Assisted living offers a social, active, and maintenance-free lifestyle for older adults who need some help with daily tasks. Assisted living residents receive the care they need while maintaining independence in a vibrant community that offers many opportunities to stay engaged. Typical assisted living services include transportation, housekeeping and laundry, and apartment maintenance. Since care is a primary focus, seniors can also expect help with personal care that’s tailored to their unique needs, including mobility assistance, medication management, and care coordination.

Hub - help with personal care icon

On-site staff help residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), which include tasks such as eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting. Staff are trained to assist with ADLs based on each resident’s needs.

CARE OPTIONS

Understanding Assisted Living Levels of Care

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CHOOSING CARE

Dishing Up the Facts About Assisted Living Menus and Dining Options

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CHOOSING CARE

An Overview of Medication Policy and Procedure for Assisted Living

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CHOOSING CARE

Incontinence Care in Assisted Living: What to Know

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AMENITIES

Assisted Living Transportation: What's Provided for Residents?

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Assisted living vs. other types of senior living

Assisted living is a popular care type with a growing demand. When considering your senior care options, you’ll come across several types of senior living. While other senior care types may offer similar services to assisted living, there are some important differences worth noting, including the types and levels of care offered to residents.

CARE OPTIONS

Assisted Living vs. Nursing Homes: Costs, Amenities, and How to Choose

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CARE OPTIONS

Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What's the Difference?

The biggest differences between assisted and independent living include level of care, services, and cost.

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Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences

Learn the differences between these two care types and how to choose which best fits your loved one.

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Assisted Living vs. Board and Care Homes for Seniors: What’s the Difference?

Board and care homes located in residential neighborhoods are designed for fewer than 10 seniors, while assisted living ...

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Assisted living costs near me

Average cost comparisons near ,

Assisted living costs and payment

Assisted living costs vary from one community to the next. Key factors determining elder care costs include location, community amenities, apartment size, and how much help your loved one needs. Different pricing models also affect costs. For example, while some assisted living facilities may be all-inclusive, others charge for services a la carte based on the resident’s needs.

 

Typically, an assisted living base fee will cover housing, utilities, meals and snacks, weekly housekeeping, transportation to doctor’s appointments, and social activities, although some outings or amenities may cost extra. Additional expenses may include help with personal care, in-unit internet service, beauty and barber services, laundry, and pet fees.

COST

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

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How to Pay for Assisted Living: A Comprehensive Guide

Most families use private funds to pay for assisted living. Insurance, VA benefits, and home equity can also help cover ...

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Where to Find the Cheapest Assisted Living in 2023

Explore which states have the lowest assisted living costs. Learn how costs are calculated and how location affects pric...

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Assisted Living Benefits for Veterans: A Comprehensive Guide 

Learn about the assisted living options available to veterans, veteran spouses, and surviving spouses.

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Does Medicaid Pay for Assisted Living?

Learn what assisted living costs, what Medicaid will cover and how to apply, and other payment options.

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Touring and moving tips

You may feel overwhelmed with choices when it’s time to find an assisted living facility for your loved one. Ultimately, there’s no substitute for visiting a community and experiencing a typical day. Touring an assisted living facility provides opportunities to see the building, assess cleanliness, witness staff interactions with residents, try a meal, participate in activities, and talk to other residents. Most assisted living facilities also offer virtual tours if an in-person visit isn’t possible.


One strategy is to tour several communities yourself and then bring your parent to your top two choices, keeping in mind which communities are most likely to appeal to them. Once you’ve chosen a community, staff may be able to refer you to move managers and help remove the moving boxes from the room after everything is unpacked. If you’re stressed about moving day, plan ahead and consider finding expert assistance to help with this major transition.

CHOOSING CARE

6 Essential Steps to Take When Your Parents Need Assisted Living

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Finding Senior Living for Elderly Couples

Learn about senior living options for elderly couples, find average costs, and get tips on navigating care options.

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Questions to Ask Assisted Living Facilities When Touring

These questions for assisted living interviews can help you learn about the quality of a prospective facility’s amenitie...

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Moving to Assisted Living Checklist: Where to Start, What to Keep, and Everything in Betwe...

These assisted living moving tips and convenient checklist will help both you and your loved one stay organized before, ...

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5 Tips to Help Your Parent Transition to Assisted Living

Downsizing from a lifelong home to an assisted living community can be stressful. Use these moving and logistics tips fo...

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Explore more assisted living topics

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AMENITIES

Beyond Bingo: The 50+ Best Activities for Seniors in Assisted Living

CHOOSING CARE

Nonprofit Assisted Living: How It Compares to For-Profit Options

PAYMENT

Social Security Benefits and Assisted Living: A State-by-State Guide

CARE OPTIONS

Your Complete Guide to Assisted Living

COST

Is Assisted Living Tax Deductible? What You Need to Know

CARE OPTIONS

What to Do When Dad and Mom Have Different Senior Living Care Needs

A Place for Mom has the largest network of senior living communities and home care providers in the nation. We enable caregivers to make the best decisions for their loves ones.

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Assisted Living

Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.

The score shown is the overall experience rating which is an average of the reviews submitted for those communities. The overall experience rating is a star rating that ranges from 1 being the lowest to 5 being the highest.

Below are the 51 largest cities grouped by their metropolitan area.

Top states for Assisted Living

7.1
Alaska, AK
54 facilities
8.3
Alabama, AL
300 facilities
7.7
Arkansas, AR
138 facilities
7.8
Arizona, AZ
962 facilities
8.2
California, CA
3375 facilities
7.6
Colorado, CO
424 facilities
8.6
Connecticut, CT
172 facilities
7.8
8.3
Delaware, DE
41 facilities
8.1
Florida, FL
2029 facilities
8.0
Georgia, GA
823 facilities
5.3
Hawaii, HI
39 facilities
7.5
Iowa, IA
476 facilities
7.7
Idaho, ID
186 facilities
8.1
Illinois, IL
697 facilities
7.8
Indiana, IN
481 facilities
8.0
Kansas, KS
320 facilities
7.9
Kentucky, KY
273 facilities
7.9
Louisiana, LA
125 facilities
8.1
Massachusetts, MA
353 facilities
8.0
Maryland, MD
398 facilities
7.7
Maine, ME
144 facilities
7.9
Michigan, MI
1071 facilities
7.2
Minnesota, MN
881 facilities
7.5
Missouri, MO
529 facilities
8.0
Mississippi, MS
189 facilities
7.0
Montana, MT
135 facilities
7.7
North Carolina, NC
704 facilities
7.3
North Dakota, ND
101 facilities
7.6
Nebraska, NE
310 facilities
8.1
New Hampshire, NH
100 facilities
8.2
New Jersey, NJ
363 facilities
8.1
New Mexico, NM
138 facilities
8.3
Nevada, NV
121 facilities
8.2
New York, NY
521 facilities
8.0
Ohio, OH
928 facilities
8.1
Oklahoma, OK
248 facilities
7.2
Oregon, OR
600 facilities
7.9
Pennsylvania, PA
1095 facilities
8.3
Rhode Island, RI
66 facilities
8.1
South Carolina, SC
401 facilities
7.2
South Dakota, SD
127 facilities
8.3
Tennessee, TN
452 facilities
8.3
Texas, TX
1374 facilities
7.8
Utah, UT
166 facilities
8.2
Virginia, VA
489 facilities
8.2
Vermont, VT
59 facilities
8.0
Washington, WA
1405 facilities
7.5
Wisconsin, WI
1143 facilities
8.7
West Virginia, WV
58 facilities
4.1
Wyoming, WY
47 facilities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal, or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney, or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.