Find Assisted Living Near Me

What is assisted living?

Assisted living is senior housing, often in apartment-like communities, with on-site staff to help residents with some of their daily living tasks. These activities can include bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, eating, and using the bathroom. Meals and housekeeping are also provided. Other services in assisted living may include medication management, health monitoring, transportation, and social activities. Assisted living is separated into three levels, with level one giving residents the most autonomy and level three being reserved for seniors who need the most supervision and personalized care.

What Are Assisted Living Facilities?

Assisted living facilities (ALF) help seniors complete their day-to-day activities. Depending on the community, residents may live in studios, suites, or one- or two-bedroom apartments or homes. Common areas often include a dining room, laundry room, fitness center, game room, arts and crafts room, salon, movie theater, clubhouse, library, and computer room. Assisted living facilities may also be known as residential care communities or long-term care facilities. Some assisted living facilities offer independent living, memory care, or nursing care.

When Is Assisted Living Needed?

Assisted living is best suited for aging adults who can no longer live alone for practical or safety reasons. However, these adults do not need a high level of medical care, such as in a nursing home. Residents still live independently, just with daily help available as needed.

The general test of whether someone would benefit from assisted living is an assessment of activities of daily living. Ask yourself or your loved one:

Do you need help with any of these activities?

• Bathing: Showering, shaving, brushing teeth, etc.
• Dressing: Putting clothes on without having trouble with zippers and buttons.
• Eating: Feeding yourself without much difficulty.
• Transferring: Walking or moving from a wheelchair to a bed and back again.
• Toileting: Getting on and off the toilet.
• Continence: Controlling your bladder and bowel functions.

The activities that assisted living residents are most likely to need help with are bathing and dressing, according to National Center for Assisted Living. 37% of residents need help with one or two activities, while 37% need help with three or more tasks.

Benefits of Assisted Living

Availability of Staff

Seniors needing daily care benefit greatly from having staff members available to meet their unique living requirements. From getting a medical checkup to scheduling social activities, there is always someone around to help. At an ALF, care is a 24/7 amenity; even in the late hours, residents can call upon a staff member for immediate assistance. Their around-the-clock comfort and care are of the utmost importance for the facility personnel.

More Ways to Spend Quality Time

Within a retirement community, seniors can choose how to use their quality time. Various activities, from art classes to movie nights, ensure residents enjoy each day. ALFs even provide transportation to help seniors run errands or explore new places. Quality time is about having positive experiences and making good memories. Whether they want group fun or independent relaxation, the freedom to choose how to spend their time is up to them.

Personalized Services According To Their Needs

Assisted living facilities provide personalized services to meet a resident’s specific needs. For example, ALFs can help seniors schedule and stay on track with taking their medication. If a senior likes the outdoors, the facility staff will reserve time for them to exercise regularly at a park. Whether the requested services are health-related or recreational, ALFs can offer them.

Staff Takes Care of Maintenance

The facility staff and contractors do household chores like cleaning interiors and maintaining exteriors. From housekeeping to repairing broken fixtures to mowing the lawn, residents don’t have to worry about performing physical labor. Free from this burden, seniors can enjoy their experience at ALFs undisturbed.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

The average cost of assisted living nationally is $4,500 a month for a one-bedroom unit with a single resident, according to Genworth. Pricing is determined by the type of residence, its size, the services needed, and the amenities offered. Some communities provide shared apartments, which cost less than private apartments.

Assisted living costs also vary significantly by state. Recent data from the World Population Review found the highest average price, $7,021 a month, in New Hampshire. The lowest average price, $2,684 a month, was in Oklahoma.

Assisted Living vs Other Senior Housing

To better understand assisted living, it might help to learn how it differs from other forms of senior housing:

Assisted Living vs. Independent Living

Assisted living residents need some help with their daily activities, whereas independent living facilities are primarily for seniors who can take care of themselves with minimal assistance. Often, these individuals don’t want to deal with the maintenance and responsibilities of homeownership; or they want to socialize and find companionship with other retirees. Assisted living helps residents complete basic tasks like running errands, tracking medications, and grooming. While pricing for both community options varies widely, ALFs cost more because they require additional staff and personalized care for the residents.

Assisted Living vs. Home Care

Unlike assisted living, home care is when a senior receives personalized care in the comfort of their residence. A senior could hire a personal caregiver to help them cook dinner, clean the house, and shop for groceries. While assisted living facilities provide 24/7 availability, home care services can vary widely based on the client’s specific needs. Regarding costs, a senior needing fewer than 40 hours of home care a week will generally pay less than assisted living. But home care can be more expensive than assisted living if the client requires extensive care.

Assisted Living vs. Memory Care

While assisted living is best for senior citizens who still retain their mental sharpness, memory care is specialized for residents experiencing progressive cognitive impairments or decline (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory conditions). Seniors in memory care often display unique behaviors: disorientation, problems recognizing people, wandering off, forgetting details, or losing track of items. Memory care facilities tailor their programs and amenities to accommodate seniors’ special memory-based needs and other personal and medical care services.

Assisted Living vs. Nursing Homes

Assisted living focuses on providing seniors with a place where they can live peacefully, receive help performing tasks, and build a community with their peers. Nursing homes focus heavily on providing senior and medical care, with housing complementing those services. Residents at assisted living facilities generally don’t need constant supervision or around-the-clock care. Nursing home residents need frequent care and additional attention for their physical and mental conditions.

Assisted living provides permanent residency, while seniors only stay at a nursing home during rehabilitation. Costs vary nationwide, but assisted living may be more expensive because tenants stay long-term, and government healthcare programs don’t usually cover it (e.g., Medicare).

Who Are Assisted Living Residents?

Common Health Issues for Assisted Living Residents

70% of assisted living residents are women

63% of assisted living residents are widowed

53% of assisted living residents are age 85+; 30% are 75-84

• Common Health Issues for Assisted Living Residents
• High blood pressure: 55% of residents
• Alzheimer’s and other dementias: 33%
• Heart disease: 17%

Also, 69% of residents need assistance walking or locomoting.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies, 2022.

Assisted Living Services

While assisted living services vary, here are 10 common services and amenities most communities offer:

• Assistance with daily living activities: ALFS have trained personnel who can help senior residents complete their daily tasks (e.g. eating, dressing, bathing, making the bed, driving, etc.). They even facilitate various extracurricular activities to make every day enjoyable and diversified, like going to the movies or group painting sessions.
• Basic health monitoring: Sometimes, a senior might stay at an ALF if they have basic health and medical needs that require semi-regular attention. Whether they need heart monitoring or a daily blood sugar checkup, these facilities have the necessary tools and equipment to meet those health concerns.
• Medication management: Medications are as vast as the seniors who take them, so it can be challenging to stay consistent. A senior may forget to take their medicine before breakfast or miss an entire day entirely. Thankfully, ALFs can help schedule and manage medications, so your loved one never misses a dose.
• Emergency call systems: Emergencies can occur unexpectedly, so remember, things happen. Whether a senior falls and hurts themselves or has a medical episode, don’t stress. Every facility will have its own emergency call system to ensure every resident gets the emergency attention they need promptly.
• Meals and snacks, accommodating special diets: Residents never have to worry about food. Every facility provides a meal plan to ensure they eat well, including full-course meals and snacks to enjoy throughout the day. If seniors have unique dietary restrictions or food allergies, ALFs can accommodate their special dietary requirements.
• Daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly housekeeping: Facility upkeep is essential for maintaining a clean environment for all residents. ALFs handle the housekeeping, often on a routine schedule or when immediate cleaning is required. They perform chores like cleaning the bathrooms, mopping the floors, sanitizing surfaces, and washing dishes.
• Linen service or personal laundry service: Doing laundry can be tiresome, which is why most ALFs do it on their residents’ behalf. The staff usually wash clothes and linens on a set schedule to ensure their tenants have clean clothes and sheets every week. They can also tailor their cleaning solutions in case a tenant is allergic to sensitive to certain chemicals and smells.
• Transportation to medical appointments and shopping: There’s usually shared transportation with large vans or buses, with most of these vehicles fitted for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. There is also personal on-demand transport to local destinations like medical appointments, church services, shopping, and special events. Some facilities even pay for taxis, public transit, rideshare services, paratransit, and volunteer drivers.
• Fitness and wellness programs: A healthy body and mind are crucial for seniors to remain alert, pain-free, and relieved of internal stressors. Most facilities provide a variety of programs to help residents take better care of their health and maintain a lifestyle fitting for them. Some of the most common health outlets include:
  • Mental fitness
  • Medical wellness
  • Social engagement
  • Emotional wellness
  • Physical exercise
  • Nutrition
• Recreational, social or educational activities: There are many recreational activities for seniors to explore, from learning new skills to having fun in the sun. While the specific programs often vary from facility to facility, some activities include dancing, nature walks, yoga, karaoke, games, and field trips. An assisted living community might even let their residents make personal requests for recreations that are typically not scheduled

NOT Included

Unless there is a skilled nursing component to the community, assisted living will not provide extensive medical care.

Additional fees:

Some assisted living communities have all-inclusive pricing for room and board and services. Others offer a la carte services or have tiered services with different levels of care. Depending on what a resident needs, some services or higher levels of care will carry an additional cost above the base fee.

Some communities allow outside services if the resident needs additional care and the community does not provide the services. These third-party services may include physical therapy, hospice care, podiatry, or dentistry.

Assisted Living Checklist

Selecting an assisted living facility requires thoughtful consideration and research. It’s crucial you find a senior housing option for your loved one that best suits their personal, medical, and social needs. Think about what questions to ask so you can better identify their unique preferences. With that goal in mind, After55.com has gathered the following questions for you to ask:

Staff and Residents

• Does the staff seem warm and welcoming?
• Does the staff appear to be cordial to one another?
• Is the staff available 24/7?
• Is the staff licensed and certified?
• What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
• Do residents look rested, happy and cared for?

Agreement and Cost

• Is there a waiting list? If so, how long is the estimated waiting time?
• What is the starting price?
• What are the standard assisted living services provided at this price?
• Are services all-inclusive, tiered or, a la carte?
• If services are tiered or a la carte, what are those costs?
• Is a reservation deposit or entrance fee required?
• What amenities are not included?
• What payment methods are welcomed?
• Under what conditions would a resident be required to leave the residence
• How far in advance is a notice of vacancy served?

Health Care and Medication

• What are health care services provided?
• Are there different levels of care? How are these levels determined?
• Is there an individual care plan maintained for each resident?
• Are residents and family members included in the process of crafting an individual care plan?
• What kind of medical personnel is available?
• Is the staff CPR certified?
• Who coordinates outside care provider visits?
• Can the staff administer medications?
• How does the facility address changes in a resident's medical care needs?
• What are the procedures for an emergency?

Community Amenities and Services

• Is there scheduled transportation? What places are included in the route?
• Is there a private dining room for family and private events?
• Is there housekeeping service?
• Is there linen and laundry service?
• Are cable TV and telephone provided, or is there an additional cost?
• Is wireless internet service provided, or is there an additional cost?
• Are there planned activities for residents?
• Is there a professional fitness staff at residents' disposal?

Individual Apartment or Units

• What size are the apartments or cottages — studio, one bedroom, two bedrooms?
• Is there a lease, or is the rental month-to-month?
• Can family members visit at will?
• What is the number of units?
• Can residents have a pet?
• Can residents have personal furniture?

Activities and Meal Services

• What meals are provided in the meal plan?
• Are snacks and beverages available during the day?
• How and where are meals served?
• Can meals be served in the apartment/unit?

Who Pays for Assisted Living

Most assisted living communities accept only private pay and don’t accept Medicare (unless they offer additional care services like skilled nursing). However, about 16.5% of people in assisted living facilities use Medicaid to help pay for care.

Some assisted living facilities may accept the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit, which is available to wartime veterans and their surviving spouses. This option can help offset a significant portion of the cost of assisted living.

Otherwise, assisted living costs may be paid with long-term care insurance, personal income and savings, life insurance, annuities, and reverse mortgages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between assisted living and skilled nursing?

In assisted living communities, the residents receive some help with their daily living activities, but they can generally perform most tasks independently. In skilled nursing communities, the residents often suffer from physical and mental conditions. As such, they require constant nursing care and assistance to complete most, if not all their daily tasks.

What is the highest level of assisted living?

Assisted living care is classified into three levels: level one, level two, and level three. Level three, or enhanced assisted living, is generally the highest level of care at a facility. A patient with level 3 care receives substantial hands-on assistance from multiple facility staff members throughout the day. Seniors who need this care often have physical disabilities or some degree of mental impairment.

Which state has the cheapest assisted living?

According to data from the World Population Review, the state with the cheapest living cost is Oklahoma, with an average annual cost of $32,210. Here are the other top nine states with the most affordable assisted living services:

• Missouri: $34,566
• Arkansas: $38,100
• Alabama: $39,000
• Georgia: $40,020
• Nevada: $40,800
• Utah: $40,800
• North Dakota: $40,860
• Kentucky: $41,958
• Florida: $42,000

Note: These estimates refer to the cost of a private, one-bedroom unit in an assisted living facility.

Does Medicaid/Medicare cover assisted living facilities?

Medicaid will only cover some long-term assisted living services if a senior meets the following financial and medical qualifications:

• A senior cannot exceed their federal and state income limits (either a hard income limit or a limit relative to the cost of care).
• A senior may only qualify if they need nursing care, cannot care for themselves at home, or have a mental impairment.

Medicare does not cover assisted living facilities, it may pay for some of the cost of other assistance programs, like skilled nursing facilities and home health care. Furthermore, Medicare may cover a senior’s residency within a nursing home for a limited time, usually only providing 100% coverage for the first 20 days.

Can you bring your car into assisted living?

Yes, assisted living facilities allow residents to bring their cars. Most facilities provide complimentary parking for senior residents and their guests. Even if residents no longer drive, many facilities offer chauffer services to help seniors get around in the comfort of their personal vehicles.

Do assisted living facilities allow pets?

Generally, assisted living facilities do allow pets. However, every facility is different, so this rule can vary. If pets are allowed, the facility will likely perform a pet assessment to determine if the pet is a good fit for the community. They also determine if the senior resident can care for the animal appropriately. To be sure, you can always call a facility or check their pet policy to find out if pets are permitted.

Do assisted living facilities have nurses?

Many assisted living facilities have nurses who can deliver physical, medical, and social therapy and care to senior residents. These highly skilled nursing professionals provide 24-hour supervision in case a resident requires immediate attention. However, because of the additional costs, not all facilities have nurses; they may supplement full-time nurses with part-time or visiting/traveling nurses.

Are assisted living costs tax deductible?

For a resident’s assisted living costs to be tax deductible, the individual must be classified as chronically ill. To qualify for this categorization, a physician must certify within the last 12 months that their patient meets one of two requirements:

• The patient cannot independently perform at least two daily living tasks (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, etc.)
• The senior requires constant supervision because of severe cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

How do I find assisted living near me?

The best way to find assisted living near you is through After55.com. Simply input your city, choose your preferred housing type, and explore hundreds of senior housing options in your area. With a click of a button, you can review costs, amenities, and availability, all in one easy location. With the help of After55.com, your new assisted living facility is just around the corner.