Because of the huge number of baby boomers, our society is become full of elderly people. The question for the children and caregivers of the elderly is what do they do when they can no longer live alone? The options in the past were usually restricted to nursing homes, but due to facilities trying to meet the ever increasing needs of the aging baby boomers, a new facility has become more popular. This facility is known as an assisted living facility.

What Is an Assisted Living Facility?

Assisted living facilities are homes where elderly people can live that need daily supervision or help with their daily activities. They are for the elderly that want to still have some level of independence but need help with eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, medications, laundry, and housekeeping.

The staff of the facility helps the elderly person do all of these things but they still have a private apartment which is home to them.

Are Assisted Living Facilities Regulated?

Assisted living facilities are own and operated by independent owners. There is currently not any national or government supervision of the facilities. Most facilities are regulated to a certain extent at the state level with regulations depending on which state the facility is in.

Who Is a Candidate for Assisted Living?

Assisted living is for people who are 60 years or older and need some supervision but not 24-hour medical care. The elderly who need around the clock medical care and supervision are not candidates for these facilities.

What Are the Costs of Assisted Living?

Costs of these facilities vary widely from state to state. The prices depend on many different factors such as the size of the room and whether it is one room or a suite. In other words, the larger the room the higher the cost.

Items that are usually included in the total cost are meals and snacks, assistance with daily needs such as getting up, going to bed, bathing, toileting, cleaning, laundry service, activities and entertainment.

Personal items are extra and this cost will need to be figured in. Some extra items to consider are hygiene products like Depends, and medications.

The average cost of care per month for assisted living care is around $2,640 to $3,500 per month.

When making difficult decisions regarding elderly loved ones, make sure you do your research an many facilities and do background checks as well. Keep a list of what each facility has to offer and make the best choice for your family.