Help with bathing, dressing, medications and meals in a residential setting, with privacy and independence respected every day.
Assisted living is for older adults who want to stay as independent as possible but need regular help with everyday activities. Residents have a private room or apartment and get support from trained staff around the clock, along with meals, housekeeping, activities and transportation. Care is personalized, so the amount of help can grow or shrink as needs change.
Assisted living is not a nursing home. It is a residential setting focused on daily living support rather than around-the-clock medical care.
A few questions will tell you a lot about how a community will feel to live in.
Ask how care needs are assessed, how often they are reviewed and how pricing changes as support increases.
Ask about staffing ratios, overnight coverage and staff training, especially if memory care may be needed later.
Find out who manages medications, how they are tracked and what happens if a nurse is needed.
Review menus, special diet options and how flexible mealtimes are.
Look for secure entrances, grab bars, emergency call systems and easy-to-navigate layouts.
Understand base fees, level-of-care fees and what is not included, such as supplies or transportation.
Most families pay with personal funds, long-term care insurance or veterans’ benefits. In Arizona, ALTCS can help eligible members pay for assisted living services, though not room and board. See how ALTCS works and talk with an advisor about what may apply to you.
Clear answers to common questions about assisted living.
Assisted living helps with daily activities in a residential setting. Memory care adds secure spaces, specially trained staff and structured routines for people living with dementia. Learn more about memory care.
Assisted living focuses on daily living support and independence, while a skilled nursing facility provides 24-hour medical care from licensed nurses and therapists. Learn more about skilled nursing.
Medicare does not generally cover assisted living. Medicaid programs, including ALTCS in Arizona, may help eligible people with care services, but usually not with room and board.
Many communities offer shared apartments for couples, even when only one partner needs care. Ask about availability and pricing.
Many communities can add services as needs change, and some offer memory care or nursing on the same campus. Ask how and when a move to a higher level of care is decided.
Share a few details and a Senior Care Navigator advisor will reach out to talk through your situation. It’s private and completely no-pressure.
