About Assisted Living Federation of America

The members of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) exemplify the principles of choice, dignity, and independence for seniors. To support these principles and to enhance quality of life for seniors, ALFA influences public policy, promotes business excellence, and ensures an informed public.

Assisted Living Today — A Brief Overview of Senior Living Care

Assisted living is a residential alternative to nursing home care. There are 36,000 assisted living communities nationwide serving more than one million seniors. A relatively new concept twenty-five years ago, today assisted living is the most preferred and fastest growing long-term care option for seniors.

Assisted living is regulated in all 50 states. Based on the varied preferences and needs of the elderly, there are a variety of settings from which to choose. These choices range from high-rise buildings to one-story Victorian mansions to large multi-acre campuses. All settings offer 24-hour care and supervision for those who need assistance. Care is provided with dignity and respect.

While the majority of assisted living residents today — 86.2% — pay from their personal financial resources, 41 states offer "home and community-based waivers" that allow low-income residents to live in assisted living. Also, more seniors are purchasing long-term care insurance to help plan for and finance their long-term care needs.

While many of today's baby boomers are primarily concerned with finding the right assisted living community for their aging parents and relatives, these 74 million boomers will be the next generation of assisted living residents. Innovations in technology and research will improve the existing model in years to come.

Purchase the 2009 Overview of Assisted Living for essential facts and figures about assisted living to help define the business to investors, media, consumers and others and is the most comprehensive effort to detail key benchmarks in the assisted living business.

• Learn more about assisted living
• Learn more about other senior living options

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