Assisted-Living Communities vs. Assisted-Living Houses

Everyday tasks can be difficult for older adults.

Most older adults reach a point where the ease of everyday tasks becomes elusive. Even for seniors in relatively good health, tasks like cooking meals or running errands can take more effort than in the past. Assisted-living communities and assisted-living houses provide simple, nonmedical services that can increase the quality of life for older adults.

Assisted-Living Services

Assisted-living services offer help with daily care.

Assisted-living facilities are designed to help older adults with daily care, while still permitting a certain amount of autonomy and independence. These facilities do not offer skilled nursing, but rather offer services like providing meals and helping with the daily needs of bathing and dressing. Assisted-living facilities provide appropriate exercise and activities for older adults, as well as assistance getting around.

Assisted-Living Communities

Assisted-living communities often have grounds for outdoor activities.

Assisted-living community has generally replaced the term assisted-living facility to better represent the focus of assisted-living services. These larger senior adult communities offer shared and private rooms, fostering a productive community of older adults. Assisted-living communities are often larger residential buildings, with grounds for walking and other outdoor activities. Around-the-clock assistance is provided, but there is generally limited medical staff available. The focus of these communities is to provide companionship and care for older adults unable to maintain an independent lifestyle.

Assisted-Living Houses

Assisted-living houses offer a home-like setting.

Assisted-living houses offer similar services to those provided at larger facilities. These smaller, more intimate care facilities are sometimes referred to as board-and-care homes because they provide daily care in a residential setting. Assisted-living houses look like a private home and are usually individually licensed. With two to six residents each, these homes provide daily assistance, housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry services. These homes encourage independence as much as possible, working within the needs of the residents.

Considerations

Cost is a consideration when comparing assisted-living facilities.

Assisted-living houses are more expensive than larger communities. As of May 2009, the fee for a new assisted-living home in Arizona, for example, can be around $4,000 per month, plus the cost of care. There are certainly benefits to the home-like setting, but the economy of scale makes larger communities more affordable. An assisted-living community will have a larger staff, but a home may provide more individualized care. Neither assisted-living houses nor communities provide extensive medical care or medical staff.

Misconceptions

Assisted-living houses often provide kitchen facilities for residents.

Assisted living is not a euphemism for nursing home. Both assisted-living communities and houses provide exactly what the title infers: assistance with daily tasks. These facilities meet very specific needs, while encouraging as much autonomy as possible. Residents of assisted-living houses have the facilities to cook for themselves and other features that can enhance daily life.

References

• AARP "Upscale Assisted Living Community Takes Shape": Assisted Living Communities vs. Assisted Living Houses
• Assisted Living Federation of America By the Numbers: Assisted Living Communities vs. Assisted Living Houses

Resources

• Assisted Living Federation of America: Assisted Living Communities vs. Assisted Living Houses