Assisted Living Resident Profile

Age – The average age of residents in assisted living facilities in 2006 was 85 years.

Gender – More than three-quarters of assisted living residents are female; 24 percent are male.

Typical Resident – The typical assisted living resident is an 86-year-old woman who is mobile, but needs assistance with approximately two activities of daily living (ADLs).

Number of Residents – More than 900,000 people nationwide live in assisted living settings.

Activities of Daily Living – On average, assisted living residents need help with two
ADLs. The chart below shows the various ADLs and the percentage of residents needing help with them.

Activities of Daily Living	% of Residents Needing Help
Bathing	68%
Dressing	47%
Toileting	34%
Transferring	25%
Eating	22%

Other Common Services -- A full 91 percent of assisted living residents need help with housework, while 86 percent need help managing their medications.

Moving In -- Residents come to assisted living facilities from a variety of settings, including:

60 percent moved from a private home or apartment
12 percent moved from a retirement or independent living community
10 percent moved from a family residence (such as living with adult children)
9 percent came from another assisted living residence or group home
8 percent came from a nursing facility

Moving Out – The average length of stay in an assisted living residence is about 27 months. Thirty-four percent of residents will move into a nursing facility. Thirty percent will pass away. The remaining will move home or to another location.

Resident Rights -- The National Center for Assisted Living advocates that residents’ rights should include the right to:

Privacy
Be treated at all times with dignity and respect
Control personal finances
Retain and have use of personal possessions
Interact freely with others both within the assisted living residence and in the community
Freedom of religion
Control receipt of health-related services
Organize resident councils

The information above comes from the “2006 Overview of Assisted Living,” published by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, American Seniors Housing Association, Assisted Living Federation of America, National Center for Assisted Living, and National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry, or reflects NCAL’s philosophy of assisted living.