The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) defines an assisted living residence as a special combination
of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to meet the needs - both scheduled and
unscheduled - of those who need help with activities of daily living. This type of housing offers alternatives
for older adults who may need help with dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting, but do not require the intensive
medical and nursing care provided in nursing homes.
Assisted living facilities may be part of a retirement community, nursing home, senior housing complex, or may
stand-alone. Licensing requirements for assisted living facilities vary by state and can be known by as many as 26
different names including: residential care, board and care, congregate care, and personal care. They may be operated
by non-profit or for-profit companies. Most facilities have between 25 and 120 units. There is no single blueprint,
because consumers' preferences and needs vary widely. Units may vary in size from one room to a full apartment.
We have seen a growth in popularity of the assisted living industry in recent years and it is believed that the
industry will continue to grown due to:
- The dramatic increase in the number of persons aged 85 and older. According
to information summarized from the U.S. Bureau of Census, the population of
people 85 and older is expected to increase by 33.2 percent between the years
2000 and 2010.
- According to census figures, about 6.5 million older people need assistance
with daily living activities. As the number of older Americans continues to
increase, that number is expected to double by 2020.
- The continued increase in the number of older people who live alone. Women
continue to outlive men, and the likelihood that either men or women will live
alone increases with age. Societal factors, such as rising divorce rates and the
growing numbers of people choosing not to marry, also contribute to this trend.
- Changes in the role of women, who traditionally have been the primary caregivers
of older people. The number of women in the work force grew from 20.5 percent in 1915
to more than 50 percent in 1995.
In contrast to nursing homes, no federal quality standards exist for assisted living. Additionally, states vary significantly
in their licensing requirements, quality standards, and monitoring and enforcement activities. In order to assist providers
in meeting the demands of this growing industry we will offer links to industry updates, a monthly power point presentation
that may be used to train facility staff and other helpful information.
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