Synonyms

Domiciliary care; Residential care

Definition

Assisted living is a care arrangement that provides intermittent supervision and instrumental support to individuals unable to live independently but not requiring the level of care provided in conventional nursing facilities.

Current Knowledge

Assisted living arrangements may take place in structured assisted living facilities, small group homes, or an individual’s own home or the home of a family member. These arrangements have as their goal the preservation of a degree of autonomy and privacy at home or in a home-like setting. When sited in one’s home, assistance may be provided by a combination of paid caregivers, family members, and other paid or unpaid assistants to help with housekeeping, laundry, cooking, and transportation. Assistance provided may include supervision for safety, medication management, meal preparation, and accompaniment and assistance during community-based activities. Assisted living facilities may also offer social activities and specialized services for individuals with cognitive impairment. There is a growing interest in using technology to cost-effectively provide “ambient” assistance to older adults and people with disabilities both in formal assisted living settings and in homes. Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) such as hands-on bathing, dressing, and feeding usually are not considered a part of an assisted living arrangement as the consistent need for such basic care is often seen as an indication that a traditional nursing facility or a home-based parallel thereof is the more appropriate level of care. Assisted living typically is not covered by private health insurance or Medicare, and access to such care may be limited by an individual’s finances.

Although there has been increased scholarly attention to assisted living in recent years, this work includes topics as disparate as end-of-life care and social networking in assisted living settings speaks to the continued need for well-articulated, shared definitions for discussing these care arrangements.

See Also