Glossary
Assisted Living
Definition
A residential setting that provides housing, meals, personal care, and 24-hour supervision for seniors who need help with daily tasks but don't need skilled medical care.
Assisted living sits between independent living and a nursing home. Residents typically have private apartments, get help with two or more ADLs, share meals in a dining room, and can take part in social and recreational activities.
Median monthly cost was about $5,900 in 2025. Medicare doesn't pay for assisted living; Medicaid covers some assisted living through state HCBS waivers for low-income seniors.
See also
Related terms
- Memory Care — A specialized type of assisted living for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other cognitive impairment — with secured units, higher staffing ratios, and dementia-trained caregivers.
- CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) — A senior community that provides independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing on a single campus, so residents can stay as their needs change.
- ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) — The six basic self-care tasks used to measure how independently a person can live: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, and continence.
- Medicaid Spend-Down — The process of reducing assets and income to meet Medicaid's eligibility limits — usually by paying medical expenses, modifying a home, or using legally permitted asset transfers.
Sources
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