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Summary
Assisted living is for adults who need help with everyday tasks. They may need help with dressing, bathing, eating, or using the bathroom, but they don't need full-time nursing care. Some assisted living facilities are part of retirement communities. Others are near nursing homes, so a person can move easily if needs change.
Assisted living costs less than nursing home care. It is still fairly expensive. Older people or their families usually pay for it. Health and long-term care insurance policies may cover some of the costs. Medicare does not cover the costs of assisted living.
Administration on Aging
Related Issues
- Alternatives to Nursing Homes (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish
- Housing Options for Older Adults: A Guide for Making Housing Decisions (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging) - PDF
Statistics and Research
- Dementia Special Care Units in Residential Care Communities: United States, 2010 (National Center for Health Statistics)
- Residents Living in Residential Care Facilities: United States, 2010 (National Center for Health Statistics)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Assisted Living Facilities
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Long-Term Care
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Nursing Competence in Geriatric/Long Term Care Curriculum Development for Baccalaureate...
- Article: Gerontological contributions to the care of elderly people in long-term...
- Article: Effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve quality of life in...
- Assisted Living -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) & Title VI Aging Programs (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging)
- Locate an Ombudsman (National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care)
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National Institute on Aging
Also in Spanish