Assisted living is a housing option for people who need help with daily tasks, but don't need the intensive care of a nursing home. Assisted living facilities offer room and board, personal care, and other services.

• Personal Care: Help with dressing, bathing, eating, and using the bathroom.
• Housekeeping: Laundry and cleaning.
• Transportation: Help with getting to appointments.
• Social Activities: Opportunities to socialize and participate in recreational activities.
• 24-Hour Supervision: Security and on-site staff are available around the clock.

Who lives in assisted living facilities? Older adults, people with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, and people with mental health problems or developmental disabilities.

• Assisted living is typically more expensive than living independently, but less expensive than a nursing home.
• Medicare doesn't pay for assisted living, but Medicaid may provide coverage in some cases.

Assisted living facilities may also be called adult care facilities, residential care facilities, board and care homes, or congregate care.

Independent Living (IL) is the idea that people should have the freedom to make their own life choices. It's also a civil rights movement that advocates for equal community participation.

What IL Means in Practice:

• Decision-Making: Being able to choose where to live, work, and spend time. 
• Community Participation: Taking part in community life and pursuing activities of your own choosing.
• Self-Determination: Having the right and opportunity to pursue a course of action. 
• Assistance: Having access to help and support, such as adaptations to the living space or personal assistance. 

IL for People with Disabilities:

• IL focuses on social attitudes and physical barriers rather than a person's limitations. 
• IL emphasizes an individual's right to certain types of help and assistance. 
• IL can help people with disabilities be as self-sufficient as possible. 

IL Skills:

• Personal care, such as dressing, grooming, and practicing good hygiene.
• Personal organization, such as tracking items and managing time.
• Food preparation, such as cooking, buying necessities, and storing food properly.

In-home care is a range of services that help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or other special needs live in their own homes. In-home care can include personal care, household tasks, and health care.

Personal Care:

• Helping with bathing, dressing, grooming, and using the toilet.
• Assisting with getting out of bed and walking.

Household Tasks:

• Cleaning, doing laundry, and yard work.
• Meal preparation and grocery shopping.
• Helping with errands, such as picking up prescriptions.

Health Care:

• Checking vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature, and respiration rate.
• Administering medication.
• Providing wound care.
• Collecting samples for testing.
• Helping with range of motion exercises.

In-Home Care can also include:

• Helping with money management, such as filling out forms and paying bills.
• Arranging transportation to appointments.
• Helping with social engagement and mental stimulation.

In-home care workers can include home health aides, nursing assistants, companions, and home health nurses. They may work for a home care agency or be self-employed.

Memory care is a type of long-term care that provides housing and supervision for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. It's also known as dementia care or Alzheimer's care.

Features of memory care

• 24/7 Care: Memory care facilities offer around-the-clock supervision and caregiving. 
• Personalized Attention: Memory care facilities offer more personalized attention than traditional nursing homes. 
• Activities: Memory care facilities offer activities tailored to people with memory issues, such as art classes, music therapy, and puzzles. 
• Safety: Memory care facilities may include security cameras, medical alert pendants, and delayed-egress exterior doors. 
• Support: Memory care facilities offer help with activities of daily living (ADLs), medication management, and social activities. 

Memory care may be helpful for people with mild to moderate cognitive impairment who can still live an independent life with minimal help. Memory care is different from nursing homes, though memory care facilities may be less expensive.