Who Can Live in an Assisted Living Facility?

Anyone who meets a community’s admission criteria can live in an assisted living facility. Admission standards vary between communities but typically include functional requirements, and some facilities have a minimum age. Staff members complete a thorough assessment to evaluate if a community can accept an individual.

Generally, assisted living is appropriate for seniors who can’t live independently and need practical help with everyday activities or personal care but don’t need 24/7 supervision or intensive medical care. Licensing terms and regulations for assisted living facilities often include criteria related to the health and mobility of residents.

Assisted living caregivers typically deliver person-centered help with activities of daily living, such as ambulation, bathing and eating. Although facilities provide meals, with menus sometimes created by nutritionists, some also have in-room or communal kitchens where residents can prepare their own meals if they choose. Monthly rates also often include housekeeping, laundry and maintenance. Communities commonly schedule daily activities to nurture all-round well-being and have shared areas, such as courtyards, gyms and TV rooms, for independent recreation.

Depending on the level of care required and the specific condition, seniors with health issues usually reside in assisted living communities. Admission policies and licensing criteria may exclude individuals with certain transmissible diseases, or facilities implement an isolation period if the resident is diagnosed with a transmissible disease after admission. While seniors with mild dementia benefit from assisted living, individuals with more severe cognitive decline are better suited to specialized memory care. Some assisted living communities have separate memory care neighborhoods to support seniors with dementia.Many communities accept individuals with limited mobility, vision and hearing. Depending on their licensing terms and staff training, some communities offer medication management services. Many provide routine health checks and have on-call nurses. However, residents are often responsible for administering their medications, and those who need ongoing clinical care or rehabilitation therapies may be better candidates for nursing home admission. Prospective residents and their loved ones should fully discuss their health issues, medical history and care needs before moving into a facility.