Assisted Living Resident Profile

Age -- The average age of residents in assisted living facilities in 2000 was 80 years. The average age of the oldest residents was 94; the average age of the youngest resident was 66 years.

Sex – Over two-thirds of assisted living residents are female; 31 percent are male.

Typical Resident -- The typical assisted living resident is an 80-year-old woman who is mobile, but needs assistance with approximately two activities of daily living.

Number of Residents -- Approximately 800,000 people nationwide live in assisted living settings.

Activities of Daily Living -- Nineteen percent of assisted living residents need no help taking care of their activities of daily living (ADLs), others need help varying degrees. On average, assisted living residents needed help with 2.25 ADLs. The chart below details the various activities of daily living and the levels of assistance that assisted living residents need.

Other Common Services -- A full 93 percent of assisted living residents needed or accepted help with housework, while 86 percent needed or accepted help with their daily medication.

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

• 46 percent moved from their homes
• 10 percent came from a nursing facility
• 20 percent came from another assisted living residence
• 14 percent came from hospitals

Moving Out -- Conversely, as needs change, elderly people may relocate from assisted living residences. The NCAL survey found that a majority of residents left the assisted living facility because they needed a higher level of medical care.

• 33 percent went to a nursing facility
• 28 percent died
• 12 percent returned to their homes
• 11 percent went to a hospital
• 14 percent went to another assisted living residence

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

All information comes from the National Center for Assisted Living’s (NCAL) 2000 Survey of Assisted Living Facilities or reflects NCAL’s philosophy. To order a copy of the findings from the complete survey, call 1-800-321-0343 and request the 2001 edition of Facts and Trends: The Assisted Living Sourcebook.

© Copyright 2001 by the National Center for Assisted Living