Assisted living communities offer services such as help with personal care, meals, housekeeping, and medication management, along with amenities such as fitness centers, libraries, salons, and social activities. Because offerings vary by community, understanding what’s available can help you and your loved one decide which features are essential, which are preferences, and what to prioritize when considering assisted living options.
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Assisted living communities vary widely in their staffing, available care services, and the amenities and social activities each offers. Understanding the range of offerings can help you and your loved one decide which ones matter most.
Nurses and caregivers provide help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing and showering, dressing, mobility, and managing medications. Many assisted living communities offer access to on-site or visiting health care professionals, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists.
Dining areas and meal quality vary among assisted living communities, and seniors need to consider how important it is for a community to have a registered dietitian or chef on staff. “More communities are making big efforts to offer bigger variety on their menus,” says Niki Gewirtz, a senior care expert with A Place for Mom. “This has been a pleasant surprise for families, to see so many options.”
Other food-related features that may be important for seniors include having:
Is assisted living the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
Cleaning services offered by assisted living communities include dusting and vacuuming, bed-making, bathroom and kitchen cleaning, and laundry.
Apartment maintenance and beautification — how quickly problems such as a leaky faucet are fixed and the look of the community’s exterior and surroundings — might also be important factors.
Safety and security features common to assisted living communities include the presence of staff around the clock and onsite security. Having staff available to handle urgent needs or emergencies may be a top priority for seniors who have health, mobility, or cognitive conditions. “Families might be surprised to learn that there are high-tech safety features in newer communities, like motion sensors in the apartments,” says Gewirtz.
Consider which of the following safety and accessibility features are priorities:
Many families expect assisted living apartments to be outfitted with a full kitchen, says Gewirtz, but this is rarely possible for safety reasons. “They believe there should be a full kitchen with stove/oven, but most assisted living communities won’t have that available due to health and safety risks,” she says.
A rich and stimulating schedule of activities may be important, particularly for people who are at risk of becoming isolated. “For many communities, it’s not just bingo and current events,” says Gewirtz. “There are communities that do some pretty amazing excursions and programming.”
In addition to on-site social events, communities often plan outings to local museums, concerts, and parks. Some communities center their programming around specific interests of their residents or religions. Catholic assisted living communities are one example.
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On-site amenities vary by community and can add convenience, comfort, and opportunities to enjoy favorite activities. Common examples include:
Among a senior’s needs and preferences in assisted living, some will be “must-haves,” while others may be “nice-to-haves.” If a senior is determined to bring a pet with them into assisted living, for instance, this “must-have” can narrow the options immediately to communities that allow pets.
“Some seniors might prioritize a community that is closer to family members, especially if they are older and don’t want to drive far, or just finding a place that would be affordable,” says Gewirtz. “That seems to be the biggest hurdle for most families, especially when there are high care needs that just can’t be managed at home any longer.”
Features that families often look for include having church services on site and a beautiful view from their windows, says Gewirtz. “Views are big decision makers when it comes to deciding between an apartment overlooking the parking lot or overlooking the mountains, park, or trees,” she says, adding “Usually those rooms come at a premium price.”
“It is rare that you will find a community that checks all the boxes of the ‘must-haves’ and “nice-to-haves,” says Gewirtz. Families should expect to compromise on some “nice-to-haves.”
“For instance, if finances are limited, and there are specific care needs such as insulin injections, a family may need to give up the thought of having mom live around the corner and drive further to a more affordable community that can provide that care assistance,” she says.
While families may wish for the senior loved one to have a pool on the assisted living campus, that’s not often possible. “Having a pool in the community is a big one that I see families compromise on — most communities don’t have them,” says Gewirtz.
A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help seniors and their families prioritize the senior’s needs and preferences and determine which senior living communities might be a good fit. These experts can answer questions about the differences between assisted living, nursing homes, or memory care and can help find the most appropriate option for a senior.
Some assisted living communities include most services in one monthly fee. Others charge a base rate, with additional fees for services such as medication management, personal care, or salon services. Some communities also use care tiers, with costs increasing as a resident needs more support.
The primary difference is that assisted living communities provide health care services to their residents, while independent living communities don’t provide health care services. Both types of communities provide meals and a variety of amenities.
Many assisted living communities offer apartments for couples, including when only one partner needs care. Availability, pricing, and care arrangements vary by community.
Many communities offer scheduled transportation for appointments, shopping, errands, or outings. Ask where transportation is available, how often it runs, and whether there’s an additional fee.
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.