Seniors For Living

Assisted living has been around for about 20 years now, but many people are still confused about this type of senior living setting. Today, we’ll take a closer look at a few of the most common misconceptions surrounding assisted living:

1. First of all, some assisted living residents are completely independent. They don’t need daily assistance with basic life tasks. They don’t suffer from any chronic illness or have dementia. For some, the benefits of social interaction, simplified living (no home maintenance to keep up with, meals prepared and provided, laundry services, etc.), and having help available if needed is the reason that some individuals choose assisted living care.
2. Another area of confusion: medical care and services. Most assisted living communities do not provide any kind of medical care. They may offer access to skilled care services via an on-site clinic, or through services provided by a nurse or doctor who contracts with the community (this is common among assisted living communities that may be owned by/part of a larger healthy system). On the whole, when an assisted living resident needs medical attention or skilled nursing care, the individual is sent to a hospital, to their regular primary care physician, or to an outpatient facility that provides the care required.
3. Finally, Medicare does not cover the cost of care. There may be some aspects of care (room and board) to which certain Medicare funds may be applied, but most assisted living communities are private pay only (i.e. consumers pay out of pocket).

Learn more about assisted living — and search for care — here.