What Are the Alternatives to Assisted Living?

The main alternatives to assisted living may include in-home care and adult day care, depending on an individual’s needs, budget and living preferences. Additionally, residential memory care may be a further alternative for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. Seniors with clinical or rehabilitative needs may find the visiting support of nurses and therapists of home health care more appropriate.

Assisted living includes help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and domestic chores, in a communal setting. These communities typically offer a range of activities to nurture seniors’ overall well-being, and they usually provide indoor and outdoor shared amenities where residents can relax and socialize.

In-home care provides similar support services to assisted living but on a visiting basis in a senior’s own home. In-home care doesn’t include skilled nursing or therapeutic services, which are distinct to home health care. Instead, aides assist seniors with day-to-day activities per customized care plans. Help commonly includes light housework, meal preparation, grocery shopping and transportation, and care plans may include companionship hours to help break down isolation and loneliness. Aides may also assist older individuals with personal care, including brushing their teeth, clipping their nails and getting dressed.

While assisted living also includes social programming, seniors who age at home must pursue recreational and leisure options independently. However, many towns have senior centers where older adults can socialize and access valuable aging-related services, and many centers provide transportation services and congregate meals. Individuals can contact their local Area Agency on Aging to locate their nearest senior center and learn about other community support programs.

Adult day care provides daytime-only support in a community setting. It’s typically suitable for seniors who live with family members who work during the day. Day programs vary between locations but may provide limited personal care or medical assistance, similar to assisted living communities. Other day programs focus on social engagement, wellness and life enrichment services, which are comparable to those typically offered in assisted living communities. Such programs are especially beneficial for relieving the boredom and loneliness seniors may experience if left at home alone all day.In most regions, adult day care is significantly more cost-effective than assisted living, which may offer a practical solution for families who don’t qualify for Medicaid funding for residential care.