(In Colorado, assisted living facilities and
personal care boarding homes are referred to as assisted living residences.)
What is Assisted Living?
The Colorado Assisted Living Association defines an Assisted Living
residence as a special combination of housing, personalized supportive
services and health care designed to respond to the individual needs of
those who need help in activities of daily living but do not need the
skilled medical care provided in a nursing home. There
are three types of assisted living residences in Colorado: private pay,
alternative care facilities (assisted living residences that are Medicaid
certified) and residential treatment facilities for persons with chronic
mental illness. There are about 537 (11/02) assisted living residences in
Colorado. Any assisted living residence with 3 or more beds must be
licensed. Assisted living care promotes maximum independence and
dignity for each resident and encourages the involvement of the resident’s
family, neighbors and friends.
Private pay assisted living residences are licensed.
Alternative care facilities have Medicaid clients, and are licensed and
certified. Residential treatment facilities are mental health facilities and
are licensed. They are operated by the local mental health center.
Assisted living residences range in size from 3 to
over 200
beds. The most common reasons for admission to assisted living residences
are medication management, bathing and dressing assistance, and the need for
protective oversight and supervision.
Assisted living residences provide a range of
services, and include a physically safe and sanitary environment, room and
board, personal services, protective oversight and social care.
Personal services include social supervision,
transportation assistance, activities of daily living such as bathing,
dressing, eating, laundry, and recreational and leisure activities.
Protective oversight includes monitoring activities and medications, and
social care includes organizing, planning, coordinating and conducting
activity programs.
The Health Facilities Division ensures that
assisted living residences meet established standards for health and safety
which include resident rights, protection from abuse, quality of residents'
lives and quality of residents' care through unannounced annual and
complaint surveys and inspections.
Who lives in Assisted Living Residences?
Currently, more than a million Americans live in an estimated 20,000
Assisted Living residences. These residents can be young or old, affluent or
low income, frail or disabled. A typical resident is a woman in her eighties
and is either widowed or single. Residents may suffer from Alzheimer’s
disease or other memory disorders. Residents may also need help with
incontinence or mobility.
What does an Assisted Living residence look like?
Assisted Living residences can range from a high-rise apartment complex to a
converted Victorian home to a renovated school. Residencies may be free
standing or housed with other residential options such as independent living
or nursing care. They may be operated by non-profit or for-profit companies.
Most facilities have between 4 and 120 units. There is no single blueprint,
because consumer’s preferences and needs vary widely. Units may vary in size
from one room to a full apartment.
How is Assisted Living regulated?
In Colorado, Assisted Living Residents are regulated by the Colorado
Health Facilities Division
What types of services are offered in Assisted Living residences?
Services provided in Assisted Living residences usually include:
