What type of assistance do residents in an assisted living facility primarily need?

Residents in an assisted living facility primarily require help with complex activities of daily living. This includes assistance with tasks such as meal preparation, medication management, personal hygiene, and mobility, which may not be fully independent due to age-related issues or health conditions. The focus in assisted living is to provide support that encourages residents to maintain as much independence as possible while ensuring they receive help when necessary.

While other types of support, such as social activities and engagement, are also significant in enhancing the quality of life for residents, the primary purpose of assisted living is to facilitate a level of assistance that goes beyond just basic daily living tasks. Typically, full 24-hour medical supervision is reserved for nursing homes where residents require constant medical care, which is not the primary model for assisted living. Consequently, the assistance that residents in these facilities need aligns more closely with the complexities of daily activities rather than solely basic tasks or ongoing medical oversight.