All assisted living communities provide meals, housekeeping services, 24-hour healthcare services, and assistance in bathing, dressing and taking medication. Many also offer regular transportation for shopping, daily social activities, volunteer opportunities and field trips. Cheryl Harding, UNT assistant professor of applied gerontology, says assisted living communities provide a positive alternative to nursing homes for many people. Only 5 percent of seniors live in nursing homes, and the number of nursing home beds is decreasing. Independent living retirement facilities also offer housekeeping, transportation and meals, but unlike assisted living facilities, they do not offer home healthcare services.
Large facilities have exercise and game rooms, libraries, beauty shops and swimming pools.
If a parent wishes to stay in his or her home, adult children can contact their local Area Agency on Aging for information on in-home programs such as housecleaning, meal delivery and healthcare aides, Harding says. Adult day care centers are another option. These programs provide transportation to and from the centers and offer meals, social activities and medication monitoring. While many seniors are cared for in their adult children's homes, UNT faculty say that this may not be the best option for everyone. Adult children and aging parents may have different values, Hayslip says, and friction can result from the child taking on the parental role.