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Definition: <br />Assisted Living: a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services <br />and health care designed to meet the needs -- both scheduled and unscheduled -- of <br />those who need help with activities of daily living. Services provided in Assisted <br />Living residences usually include: <br />• Three meals a day served in a common dining area <br />• Housekeeping services <br />• Transportation <br />• Assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking <br />• Access to health and medical services <br />• 24 -hour security and staff availability <br />• Emergency call systems for each resident'ss unit <br />• Health promotion and exercise programs <br />• Medication management <br />• Personal laundry services <br />• Social and recreational activities <br />(from ALFA) <br />WHAT IS ASSISTED LIVING? <br />While assisted living centers have been available the United States for many <br />years, the growth and availability of assisted living has had a dramatic increase <br />since the early 1990s. Assisted living is a residential alternative that promotes <br />maximum independence for each resident through a combination of supportive <br />services and assistance. The definition of assisted living from one state to <br />another may vary and so will the cost and types of service. <br />Assisted living centers vary in size, style and the optional services they may <br />offer. Small family style living or the larger complex of units can be found in <br />the United States. Some facilities are operated by nonprofit organizations, <br />while others are proprietary. In addition, some facilities may be co- located or <br />affiliated with a hospital or nursing facility. <br />An assisted living center is any institution, rest home, boarding home, place, <br />building or agency that is maintained and operated to provide personal care <br />and services which meet some need beyond basic provision of food, shelter <br />and laundry in a free standing, physically separate facility which is not <br />otherwise required to be licensed. <br />In general terms, an assisted living center is required to provide assistance <br />with daily living activities, including eating, bathing, dressing and personal <br />hygiene; three meals a day; supervision of self- administration of medications; <br />laundry service including personal laundry; housekeeping; and 24 hour <br />staffing. <br />6 <br />