Senior Living Facts

Seniors Housing Sector

The seniors housing sector is generally broken down into the following segments:

Independent Living Communities – provide high levels of privacy to residents and require residents to be capable of relatively high degrees of independence. An independent living apartment usually bundles several services as part of a regular monthly charge. For example, the base charge may include one or two meals per day in a central dining room, weekly maid service, or services of a social director. Additional services are generally available from staff employees on a fee-for-service basis.

Assisted Living Communities – are typically comprised of studio and one-bedroom units which include private bathrooms and efficiency kitchens. Services bundled within one charge usually include three meals per day in a central dining room, daily housekeeping, laundry, medical reminders, and 24 hour availability of assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing and bathing. Professional nursing and healthcare services are usually available at the community as requested or at regularly scheduled times.

Skilled Nursing Facilities – provide extensive nursing and healthcare services similar to those available in hospitals, without the high costs associated with operating centers, emergency rooms, or intensive care units. A typical purpose built SNF generally includes one or two beds per room with a separate bathroom in each room and shared dining facilities. SNFs are staffed by licensed nursing professionals 24 hours per day.