What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living residences combine private accommodation with support services and social activities to help seniors who may require regular help with daily activities to continue living as independently as they can.  These services often provide the bridge between home support and residential care. Often residents are people who no longer want or are able to live totally independently in their own homes, but they aren’t candidates yet for the total care provided by Residential Care (also called continuing care or complex care) residences.

A stipulation of Assisted Living is that the resident must be mobile or at least able to transfer on their own. The expectation is that you must be semi-independent and able to get yourself out of the residence during an emergency.

For some seniors, moving into an Assisted Living residence or acquiring assisted living services is a logical choice. Maintaining a home and ensuring their needs are completely met in a timely and safe way begin to be a strain on them, and often their family members as well.

The services and safety provided by an Assisted Living residence or adding assisted living services to their weekly or daily routine, allow the individual to remain significantly more independent.

Some residences may contract with home health agencies to come in and offer a menu of personal assistance services to residents.

Today’s Assisted Living residences do not look like the old-style nursing homes many of us are used to. Instead of a sterile hospital environment, Assisted Living residences are often apartment buildings with private suites. Instead of a nurse’s station, there is a help or reception desk that handles any inquiries from residents. Instead of waiting areas and cafeterias, there are cozy gathering areas with couches, fireplaces, gardens, and atriums. Dining areas can rival luxurious banquet rooms, complete with an experienced chef and servers.  Often entertainment is provided during or after mealtimes. Themed dinners and elegant soirees can make up the mixture of monthly events residents look forward to with great anticipation. Pleasant surroundings contribute to the feeling of well-being as neighbors chat and plan their next adventure. Stimulating outings may be planned by an events coordinator, with transportation provided for those residents who don’t drive.

For many, it’s a big relief when they can place the day to day tasks in the hands of an assisted living operator. Residents are free to enjoy the privacy of their own suite, entertain friends, or join in group social activities. The choice is theirs. With a positive attitude, many new friends can be made. Daily activities such as exercise programs and afternoon tea or happy hour make the time pass quickly. Special events such as bingo, sing-alongs around the grand piano, or movie nights, offer opportunities to mix and mingle with other residents. Some places even offer a golfing simulator, theatres and beauty salons.

Residences are often located near amenities such as shopping centres, banks, and recreation centres. Some even have these amenities within their structure or attached to it. Since residents may have given up their driving, having services inside the building or a short stroll away excuses the need for a car, public transit or having to call on family or friends or some other service for a ride.

An added benefit for family members is knowing their loved one is being well cared for in a safe and comfortable environment. Visits can take on a whole new dimension when the stresses of coping with daily living are not part of the relationship.

Most common Assisted Living accommodations consist of units in an apartment-style building managed by a company that provides the space and services.

Assisted Living is not restricted to this model however.  You can receive assisted living services in other types of housing such as a private home where accommodations can range from one room to a private, self-contained suite.

New amendments to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act in 2016 made it possible for people to stay longer in Assisted Living residences before being required to transfer to Residential Care.

Prior to the changes, if you required more than two out of the six prescribed assisted living services you needed to move to Residential Care. The changes remove the restriction on the number of services you can use, allowing you to stay in your Assisted Living situation longer, with a greater variety of care available, including end-of-life care if your needs can be met.

The Six Assisted Living Prescribed Services

Regular assistance with activities of daily living, including eating, mobility, dressing, grooming, bathing or personal hygiene.

Medication management including central storage of medication, distribution of medication, administering medication or monitoring the taking of medication.

Financial management including maintenance or management of the cash resources or other property of a resident or person in care.

Monitoring of food intake or of adherence to therapeutic diets.

Structured behavior management and intervention.

Psychosocial rehabilitative therapy or intensive physical rehabilitative therapy.

Services You may Expect at an Assisted Living Residence

• Housing – May be rooms with lockable doors in a home or an apartment-style building with private self-contained suites. Most come with their own complete bathrooms. Kitchen facilities may vary. Most offer scaled down versions with limited cooking apparatus, often eliminating stoves and burners in favour of microwaves and toaster ovens as a safety precaution.
• Meals – At least two nutritious meals per day
• Housekeeping – weekly
• Laundry – towels and linen will be handled by staff; access to laundry equipment for personal clothing
• Social and recreational opportunities such as crafts, music and games.
• 24-hour emergency response system
• Assistance with activities of daily living, if needed, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, hygiene and grooming, eating, and walking
• Appropriate heating and cooling systems at basic comfort level

Some residences only serve the private sector, while others offer both private-pay and public-subsidized accommodations. A few are totally subsidized and only accept government approved applicants.

Legislation introduced by the provincial government Community Care and Assisted Living Act, requires all Assisted Living residences in British Columbia to be registered and meet health and safety standards. Any health or safety complaints will be investigated by the province’s Assisted Living Registrar. The standards cover everything from safe building design to ensuring residents’ rooms are clean and that balanced and nutritious meals are served.

Want more information about making a housing decision?

INSPIRED Senior Living magazine publisher Barbara Risto is the author of “To Move or Not To Move? – A Helpful Guide for Senior Considering Their Residential Options”.  This 128-page book can be purchased for $14.95 from the INSPIRED office at 3354 Tennyson Avenue, Victoria BC.  Or you can order it online at www.seniorlivingmag.com/product/to-move-or-not-to-move or call 250-479-4705 ext 100.  Taxes and shipping costs are extra.