Assisted Living provides support with daily life in a private apartment setting, with meals, activities, and help available when needed.
Assisted living is designed for older adults who need help with daily activities but do not require ongoing skilled nursing care. Residents live in private apartments while receiving support with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, medication management, diabetes management, meals, and other day-to-day needs. Communities also provide housekeeping, laundry, dining services, activities, and staff support throughout the day and night.
Many families are surprised by how much care assisted living can provide. In Ohio, many communities have nurses available 24 hours a day and can support substantial care needs in a residential, home-like environment. Assisted living is often a good fit when living alone is no longer safe, but the person does not require services such as tube feeding, complex wound care, or continuous skilled nursing care.
Assisted Living at a Glance
• Private apartment or suite
• Help with daily activities
• Meals served in a shared dining room
• Activities and social opportunities
• Staff available day and night
Home Like Environment
Assisted living communities are designed to feel comfortable and familiar.
Residents live in their own private apartment or suite within a larger community. Residents bring their own furniture and decorate their apartments how they please. Curtains, wall hangings, and furniture are all personal to each resident.
There are shared spaces for dining, activities, and opportunities for socialization and visiting with family or neighbors in the common spaces.
As much privacy and independence as possible with staff available to provide support for everyday activities and oversight for medical conditions, medications, and safety.
Daily Life
Daily life in assisted living combines independence with built-in support.
Help with daily activities like bathing, dressing and hygiene is part of the daily routine. Residents are generally able to follow their own schedules and set a routine that works for them and can go to activities and meals as they please. Staff are able to escort residents who have limited mobility or are wheelchair bound to activities and meals.
Meals are served in a dining room, with menu choices. Some communities have assisgned dining times, such as “breakfast is at 8 am”, while others serve meals within a set window i.e. “Breakfast is from 7 am to 9am”. There are some communities that have “all day menus” with certain items available at any time of day.
Housekeeping is included in the cost of assisted living. Most communities have weekly housekeeping that includes changing bedding and laundering of sheets and towels, but may have an additional charge for laundering clothing.
Support is available, but residents decide how they spend their day.
Activities and Social Life
- Assisted living communities offer opportunities for connection and engagement.
- Exercise and movement programs
- Games, crafts, and group activities
- Music, entertainment, and special events
- Outings and community gatherings
- Bible Study and Religious Services
Book Clubs, Veteran’s Groups, Gardening groups and other similar groups are available.
If an activity is not currently on the schedule that a resident would like to participate in, they should mention to the activities and lifestyle coordinators. They are always looking for ideas and want to offer programs that residents are interested in. Participation is encouraged but never required.
Health and Medical Support
Assisted living is not a hospital, but health support is part of daily life.
Many communities have nursing staff available 24/7. The nursing staff will communicate with the primary care physician regarding medications, changes, and concerns. Medication management is usually the first piece of the care plan. The assisted living nursing staff will make sure medications are taken on time and prescriptions orders are placed with the preferred pharmacy.
Doctors, nurse practitioners, therapists, and other providers visit on site and can reduce the number of visits families have to make to physicians.
On-site nursing support and visiting healthcare providers help ensure residents’ health remains a daily focus
Signs Assisted Living Might be the Right Fit
Families often explore assisted living when daily tasks are become harder to manage, or a crisis happens.
• Safety or supervision is a concern
• Living alone is no longer working
• Support needs are increasing
• Repeated falls or hospitalizations
Next Step
If assisted living might be the right next step our find care tool can help narrow down communities that align with your family’s needs.
Explore next steps:
Use the Find Care Tool
Explore communities based on care needs
Talk With an Advisor
Get guidance from someone who understands local options
Learn more about Assisted Living (link or links)
understand what assisted living provides what it costs and when it might be the right option