Adult Living Facilities: A Place for Every Senior
Moving to an adult living facility is a choice made by millions of seniors every year. The choice to move is based on many factors, such as:
- Desire for like-minded company
- Inability or unwillingness to maintain a private home
- Daily need for assistance with basic chores
- Need for intensive, 24-hour care
There are many types of adult living facilities to choose from and with literally thousands of communities across the country, there is bound to be a community that will suit all of your needs.
Types of Adult Living Facilities
Adult living facilities offer a spectrum of care ranging from simple room and board to 24/7 bed-side treatment from licensed medical personnel. The main categories of adult living include:
- Retirement communities and independent living. These facilities provide maximum independence for their residents, with luxury accommodations and amenities but few care services.
- Assisted living offers more extensive services including help with activities of daily living such as grooming, bathing and eating.
- Memory care is a type of assisted living that caters to seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
- Nursing homes provide daily services and medical treatments to the most fragile seniors in a hospital-like setting.
- Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are designed to handle all the needs of its residents no matter what stage of life they are in.
Whatever the need, there is an adult living facility equipped to serve residents accordingly.
Services & Amenities Provided
Adult living facilities offer a broad range of services and amenities depending on the type of residents they serve. Here is a chart comparing the five main categories of adult living facilities:
| Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care | Nursing Homes | Continuing Care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of Residents | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ |
| Age Restrictions | 55+ | No | No | No | 55+ |
| Resident Health Level | Good | Fair | Fair | Poor | All Levels |
| Resident Activity Level | Very Active | Moderately Active | Moderately Active | Less Active | All Levels |
| 24-Hour Care | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Help with Daily Activities | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Care Provided | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Alzheimer’s Care | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Meal Service | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Housekeeping | Maybe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Planned Activities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Avg. Cost | $2,633/month | $3293/month | $3293/month | $229/day | Buy-in + Monthly Fees |
| Covered by Medicare | No | No | No | Yes, Up to 100 Days | Skilled Nursing Only |
Many adult living facilities have pools, gardens, courtyards, tennis courts as well other useful property features. Most facilities also provide activities, classes and workshops as well as social outings and events for residents who wish to attend. This is true no matter what type of residents the facility serves including CCRCs and nursing homes.
Accommodations
Residents of independent living communities often live in private residences and the communities resemble typical apartment buildings. These active adult living facilities may also provide additional residential amenities such as:
- Private apartments or rooms
- Kitchens or kitchenettes
- Private baths
- Courtyards, patios, balconies
Seniors who require more assistance, such as assisted living and memory care residents, may have the option of private or shared rooms or apartments. Residents of nursing homes or CCRCs typically live in private or shared rooms more like a standard hospital room.
Find Adult Living Facilities
Browse our comprehensive directory to find adult living facilities across the United States. We list thousands of facilities including assisted living, independent living, memory care, continuing care, nursing homes and more…
Written by senior housing staff writer.
