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Residents often live in their own room or apartment within a building or group of buildings and have some or all of their meals together. Social, recreational activities, and transportation are usually provided. Some assisted living residences have health services on site.

Costs for assisted living residences can vary widely depending on the size of the living areas, services provided, type of help needed, and where the building is located. Residents usually pay a monthly rent and then pay additional fees for the services that they get.

To get more information on assisted living residences, look at the Administration on Aging website. You can also visit the Eldercare Locator website or call their toll-free number at 1-800-677-1116 to find out if this long-term care choice is available in your area.

Look at the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) website for online directory of assisted living residences and tips for consumers on what to look for when choosing a facility.

You can also look at the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) website, (part of the American Health Care Association), for more information about how to select an assisted living facility. You may also want to read their publication titled A Consumer Guide to Assisted Living and Residential Care Facilities.