Do Many People Go Home From Assisted Living?

Some people do go home from assisted living, often with visiting support. Individuals may return home from assisted living communities for various reasons, including affordability, dissatisfaction and discomfort. Additionally, some older adults change assisted living facilities to align more with their preferences, and others move into different care settings, such as nursing homes or memory care neighborhoods.

As of 2022, seniors aged 65 and older accounted for around 17.3% of the American population, and approximately 1.2 million older Americans reside in assisted living facilities. Such communities provide practical support for those who can’t live safely or comfortably alone. However, unless seniors are subject to a legal guardianship order, they can leave assisted living communities and return home.

As reported by AARP, the average length of stay in an assisted living community ranges from 2.5 to 3 years. The most common reasons for leaving are moving to a higher care setting or death. However, research indicates that 12% of seniors leave assisted living because they aren’t happy with the care, while 11% cite general dissatisfaction as their reason for leaving a facility. Such individuals may move to a different assisted living community, receive care from family members or engage in-home support services.

Home care agencies assist with everyday tasks and personal care on a visiting basis, and home health care covers intermittent nursing and therapeutic services. Both care types can help seniors age safely at home. Public assistance programs may pay toward care costs for seniors who meet financial and functional criteria. Additionally, various government and nonprofit organizations offer affordable support services for those aging in place — individuals can get more information from their local Area Agency on Aging or Aging or Disability Resource Center.Family members may also provide informal care for their aging relatives. Indeed, over 40 million individuals provide unpaid care for senior family members in the United States. However, some states pay family caregivers, and individuals may receive compensation through some long-term care insurance plans. Additionally, adult day programs offer daytime support and enrichment for seniors while family members are at work.