Assisted living facilities (or Alzheimer's care facilities) are also referred to as an intermediate long-term care facility and are residences for seniors who require some care or help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, or dressing. An assisted living or intermediate long-term care facility, which is designed for seniors who require extra care and attention due to Alzheimer's or dementia, is set up with special safeguards for wandering and has caregivers trained in handling dementia behaviors.

Assisted living facilities offer aid and personal care for seniors, and some facilities have nurses on staff; however, this is not required by law. The facility's caregivers will create a care plan that includes meals, housekeeping, laundry services, scheduled transportation, group activities and field trips, and assistive tools such as emergency call systems.

How to Choose an Intermediate Long-Term Care Facility

An assisted living or intermediate long-term care facility is usually private pay, although long-term care insurance and Veterans Benefits may cover some of the costs. If your loved one suffers from Alzheimer's or dementia, selecting the right facility can be even more difficult as you'll need to take note of things like room décor, meals, security, and activities.

To learn more about assessing an assisted living or intermediate long-term care facility, please read Finding the Right Assisted Living Facility: Touring Checklist to determine how to evaluate a community or Finding the Right Assisted Living Facility: Costs Checklist for you or your loved one. Select a state from the list below or begin searching for assisted living facilities now.