Assisted Living Facilities
By the Numbers: Facts and Figures on Assisted Living
15,640
certified facilities in the United States
1.6 million
certified beds in the United States
100
Average number of beds per facility
Who Pays for Assisted-Living Facilities
61.7%
Medicaid
13.5%
Medicare
24.8%
Private payer
Who Owns Assisted-Living Facilities
69%
For-profit corporations
23.5%
Nonprofits
6.9%
Government agencies
Average Nursing Hours, Per Resident, Per Day
4.1 Actual
4.55 Minimum recommended
Source: Charlene Harrington, Helen Carrillo, Rachel Garfield, and Ellen Squires. “Nursing Facilities, Staffing, Residents and Facility Deficiencies, 2009 Through 2016,” Kaiser Family Foundation, April 3, 2018. Accessed April 19, 2018. www.kff.org/medicaid/report/nursing-facilities-staffing-residents-and-facility-deficiencies-2009-through-2016
Assisted Living vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?
Nursing Homes
Long-term facilities that specialize in taking care of those with serious conditions that require around-the-clock care or companionship. Focused and dedicated medical attention makes nursing homes a preferred option for those recovering from strokes or heart attacks.
Assisted-Living Facilities
Provide support to residents who have issues related to aging. Residents are typically semi-independent and need assistance with just a few activities of daily living.
In Assisted Living:
Accommodations feature:
- Buildings that allow for an average of 100 beds, but they can be as small as 20 beds
- Rooms and bathing areas that are private
- Dining, communal, or outdoor spaces
- Safety monitoring
Residents are:
- Recovering from a short-term illness or injury
- Coping with chronic illness that does not require invasive care
- Elderly but semi-active, long-term tenants
Staff includes:
- Nurse Practitioners and gerontological specialists who assess and prescribe changes to medication, diet, and care plans
- Registered nurses to oversee medication and assess and treat health conditions
- Nurse aides who help with dressing, bathing, and eating as needed
- Dietary aides who plan, cook, and serve meals based on resident-specific nutritional needs
Where to Start: Finding the Place You Can Call Home
Consult your primary care provider. A specialist like a Nurse Practitioner will provide expertise as you plan for the future.
Contact your local area agency on aging for advice and guides. Sites like www.eldercare.gov can help.
Check out government ratings. On medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare you can see ratings in health, staffing, and quality measures.
Visit facilities. Go during an activity and join in. Have a meal with the residents or stroll around the grounds.
Nursing@Simmons
Phone Number: 1-855-461-7466
Email Address: admissions@onlinenursing.simmons.edu
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