Assisted Living

This entry addresses assisted living facilities, which is the most common name for residential care facilities. These facilities are community-based residential care settings for older adults and younger people with disabilities who are unable to live independently. Many other countries, including England, Sweden, and Denmark, have similar types of residential arrangements. These settings provide room, board, and long-term services and supports, including assistance with personal care needs such as activities of daily living.

Assisted living facilities/residential care facilities are meant to be homelike settings where people control the services they receive. Unlike nursing homes in the United States, which are regulated by federal law and subject to federal monitoring and oversight, residential care facilities are governed almost entirely by state laws and regulations, which vary considerably ...