Affordable Assisted Living: Surveying the Possibilities

W03-1: The growing number of frail seniors in the U.S. has prompted considerable concern over the provision of long-term care. Seniors are living longer and staying healthier than at any point in history, yet most seniors reach a point when they need some assistance with activities of daily living1. Because of demographic and lifestyle changes, such as increased mobility, smaller family sizes, and the increased proportion of women in the workforce, seniors are less likely to move in with adult children as a means of receiving such needed assistance. Over the past decade, a private market in assisted living has emerged to address this intermediary stage between independent living and skilled nursing facilities. Assisted living facilities offer a combination of housing, supportive services and personal care (not including medical care) that enables frail seniors to maintain maximum independence while receiving the assistance they need.