By the year 2030, the number of older Americans over the age of 65 will have reached 70 million, with one in every five Americans being over the age of 65 (Cavanaugh, & Blanchard). This substantial increase calls for society to be pro-active in establishing specific measures concerning the quality of care for the aging individual. It is ideal for an older adult to be able to live independently for as long as possible but this it not always the most practical option. Assisted living is an expanding, attractive, alternative for many older adults and their care providers. As a resent advance in the realm of senior care, ALFs are a great option for many older adults and can be a very sensible choice for several reasons. Some families may live too far away to provide adequate support, or may feel uncomfortable about hiring in-home staff to take care of their loved ones. Many older adults also require so much care that having in-home support may surpass the expenses of ALFs (Hogan, & Hogan, 2010). .
According to the National Center for Assisted living, nearly one million older adults live in about 38,000 ALF residences. A lot of money is spent on equipping these residences with adaptive devices such as grab bars and ramps. Each resident has their own private room and some facilities even give the option of allowing adults to make their own meals. The staff takes care of linen, laundry, and personal care such as helping with bathing and dressing. Proper medication is administered and transportation is also arranged when a resident wants to leave the facility for shopping needs or a visit with loved ones. There is a lot of diversity amongst Assisted Living Facilities, but the majority of them have a residential atmosphere. Many families and caregivers feel that spending between 3,000-6,000$ monthly is worth the cost because of the freedom and pleasurable experience their loved one will have (Hogan, 2010).
