Older Americans are moving into assisted living facilities every day. They see assisted living as a welcome alternative to nursing homes. They value the independence and the quality of life it can offer. They're willing to pay out of pocket for these services. Additional fees can add up, as we'll hear from our witnesses today.
Anecdotal reports suggest many satisfied customers.
But it is difficult to move beyond anecdotal information and on to hard facts. Assisted living means different things to different people and in different states. The 50 states have 25 different licensing categories for assisted living. They all regulate it differently. This variety makes it a challenge to determine exactly how many people are in assisted living and what sort of services they receive.