Assisted Living
Assisted living is for seniors that need help with everyday
tasks. They may need help with bathing, eating or dressing but they
don't need full-time nursing care. Some assisted living facilities
are part of retirement communities where you have choices of the
levels of care provided. 
Assisted living generally costs less than nursing home care but it is
still fairly expensive. Health and long-term care insurance policies
may cover some of the costs or their families usually foot the bill.
Medicare does not cover the costs of assisted living. 
For most people, making the decision to move to an assisted living
facility or a continuing care retirement community is a big step.
Trading a familiar neighborhood and old friends for a new living
environment and giving up some privacy and responsibility in
exchange for a simpler life and freedom from the chores of home
maintenance can be a difficult decision.
For example, residents of assisted living facilities do not need to
be concerned with daily meal preparation, a central kitchen and
dining facility typically provides three meals a day and the central
dining facility also allows for socialization with others without
having to leave home. 
Assisted
living facilities are usually licensed by state governments and are
known by many different names - residential care, board and care,
congregate care, and personal care. Assisted living care is not a
substitute for nursing home facilities that provide a much more
intensive level of care. |
