What is assisted living?

An assisted living community is a housing and health care alternative that is based on the residential model rather than a medical or institutional model. Here are some statistics on assisted living communities:

• The number of residents in assisted living communities ranges from six to 300, with an average of 67 residents, according to a study from the Assisted Living Federation of America in Fairfax, VA.

• Up to 1.5 million Americans live in an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 assisted living communities.

• The typical resident is a woman, single or widowed, who is 83 to 85. The vast majority of residents are the frail elderly, a segment of the population that is expected to increase by 39.3% in the next three years.

• The average rate in an assisted living community is $71 per day as compared to $111 per day for a skilled nursing home.

• The $12 billion-a-year industry is expected to grow to $30 billion by the the year 2000.

Source: Assisted Living Federation of America, Fairfax, VA.