With today's medical advancements, people are living longer than ever, making assisted living facilities increasingly common. Nursing homes are providing attention and medical care for seniors that don't require hospitalization, but need help with daily activities and continuous medical assistance.

As the assisted living field expands, many societal and economic trends are affecting the industry. Among the key assisted living news and trends affecting assisted living corporations are the following:

1. Long term care facilities are being used to care for seniors whose families are unable to do so.

2. The right ratio of nursing home or assisted living facility staff to residents is a debated issue.

3. Funding and costs for nursing homes is a growing concern.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stay on top of the latest skilled nursing facilities industry news

Many people are unable to provide caregivers for the seniors in their families. This is due to the fact that many families have both spouses working full time jobs, leaving no one available to act as a caregiver at home. Adults are relying on assisted living facilities to provide the care their aging parents need instead.

I recommend: As a provider in the assisted living business, learn about how the demand for assisted living care is increasing while the need for nursing home care is declining with the information provided by the NCAL. You can also keep track of assisted living news and trends with nursing home news from Fierce Health Care.

Keep up with industry trends concerning retirement home staffing

The level of staff needed for an assisted living facility or nursing home depends on the services it offers. Often, assisted living facilities operate with smaller staffs because they do not offer the intensive medical treatment nursing homes do. The question of how many staff members is the right number is a debated issue in health care.

I recommend: Read what some states are doing to ensure adequate and competent staff for nursing facilities according to Better Jobs Better Care. McKnight's is a great online resource that can be used to track assisted living industry news and staffing trends in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Remain aware of changes in long term care facility funding and regulations

Costs and funding is a growing concern in the assisted living business. Many people rely on Medicare or Medicaid to provide funding for the care of their loved ones, but some feel that these organizations still don't provide adequate funding for proper care.

I recommend: Lifecare Funding is a site dedicated to the financial and funding aspects and issues of the life insurance and assisted living industries. Use the Legislative Alert page, among other great resources, to help you stay abreast of new funding legislation and regulations at the Assisted Living Federation of America's site.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Another way to make sure that you are running a top notch long term care facility is to read news sites devoted to the concerns facing seniors and long term care residents. Seniorjournal.com is a great place to start.

As more baby boomers age into senior citizens, the need for assisted living facilities is exploding. Many seniors are not able or do not wish to live completely independently, but are not in any fashion ready for traditional nursing homes. It's therefore imperative that you market your assisted living business to this widening customer base by focusing on your strengths compared to your competition.

Your business plan for assisted living facilities must include many different considerations. The most successful assisted living corporations are able to develop communities where people don't feel like they're just waiting for the end but rather enjoying the day they have today. This not only includes activities and available resources, but also accommodations for couples. In addition, many people prefer that the facility they choose include either a skilled nursing facility or tie-ins with local long-term care facilities.

When determining the needs of your target assisted living clients, consider these:

1. The feeling that residents are not in a retirement home but rather an active community

2. The availability of flexible housing options in an assisted living facility

3. The ability to smoothly transition to a more medically intensive long-term care facility when necessary

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Plan for your assisted living business to include many different activities

Whether you're designing a new assisted living facility or simply working to better your current one, it's important to make sure that your clients have plenty of activities to keep them busy. These activities need to be both active and passive. Some can include community-organized activities such as cards and bingo. You might also consider pairing with a local recreation facility to allow your clients to swim, take aerobics classes, or even teach a hobby to a group of children.

I recommend: Assisted Living Success is an online resource for owners of long-term care facilities. They offer a variety of success stories and options for creating activity and recreation programs.

Build your assisted living facilities to allow for a variety of housing options

If you're building a new facility or renovating an old one, it's important to have multiple living arrangements for residents. Many couples are moving into assisted living facilities together but want to have some space apart as well; for these couples, two-bedroom units are necessary. Multiple-bedroom options also are necessary for friends or siblings who want to live together. By offering more than just one-bedroom units exclusively, you can expand your client base considerably.

I recommend: SFCS, a leading designer of senior living communities, offers experience in a variety of floor plans and multiple-bedroom units.

Offer either an on-site skilled nursing facility or network with local nursing homes

Unfortunately, the sad truth about the majority of assisted living clients is that they will eventually need the assistance of a more medically intensive environment. It's therefore important to many of your clients that you show them that you offer a way to transition to this phase of their lives as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. Whether you do this by offering your own in-house nursing home or you work to link with other local convalescent homes, you can work to reassure your clients that they will be able to maintain their connection with their friends and loved ones in the assisted living facility when they need more skilled care.

I recommend: The AARP is an indispensable resource to seniors and their families on transitioning among various housing options, and it can help you understand what your clients need.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If possible, work with your current assisted living residents to hear what they would like to see done differently. While you may hear quite a few seemingly petty complaints, you're also likely to hear ideas that never would have occurred to you otherwise.

As medical advancements continue to develop and lifespans continue to rise, assisted living facilites are in high demand. People rely on long term care facilities to care for their aging family members and provide assistance with health care services. Assisted living allows seniors to retain their independence while maintaining healthy, active lives.

As a provider of an assisted living business, it's important to understand what the concept of an assisted living facility encompasses. Assisted living can include a variety of services, facilities and personnel. Learn about the following assisted living basics:

1. Assisted living facilities provide independent assistance.

2. Nursing homes provide round-the-clock medical and nursing treatment.

3. Assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities are both subject to federal standards and regulations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn what qualifies as assisted living

An assisted living facility provides care for people that are still mostly independent, but require some assistance and medical care. These facilities often have off-site work programs or arts and recreation activities to keep residentsa happy and active.

I recommend: Learn more about the services offered by an assisted living facility versus a skilled nursing facility with this informative article from Medicine Net. Medicare provides a comprehensive resource of information about what services nursing homes typically provide for residents and their families, as well as government standards that they are required to meet.

Know what additional services nursing homes provide

A nursing home or long term care facility differs from an assisted living facility in the amount of medical care and treatment offered. Nursing homes offer constant medical attention. Make sure your nursing home is adequately staffed to meet the specialized needs of your residents.

I recommend: Find knowledgeable and capable nursing and medical staff for your nursing home through Core Medical Group, who specializes in finding professionals for nursing facility and hospital jobs. The PARX Group provides healthcare employees for nursing homes nationwide, including specialists like physical and speech therapists.

Keep track of current assisted living guidelines and regulations

All nursing homes and assisted living facilities are subject to specific regulations and laws to keep residents safe and protect their rights. These regulations are usually reviewed or updated annually, so it's important to be aware of changes that affect your facility. Ensure that your facility is following all state and federal guidelines to provide the best possible care.

I recommend: Follow your state's regulations and stay aware of any updates or changes with the state guide at Senior Resource. Keep track of national laws and Medicaid guidelines to keep costs low and better serve your residents.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Follow changes in the assisted living industry and stay on top of trends at the National Center for Assisted Living's website (www.ncal.org).

As people age, they frequently require additional care in order to protect their health and safety. While some senior citizens require high-maintenance care, such as the type of care offered in a nursing home, many seniors require a minimal level of assistance, as is evidenced at an assisted-living center. When considering assisted living for yourself or a loved one, there are a few terms to keep in mind.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Assisted-living facility

An assisted-living facility is a residential setting that provides its residents with personal and health-care services. These facilities are not nursing homes and do not provide sustained medical care. In addition, an assisted-living facility offers its residents 24-hour supervision.

I recommend: A Place for Mom explains the specifics about assisted-living facilities.

ADLs, or activities of daily living

The six basic categories of ADLs include hygiene, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and transferring from one position to another. Generally, a social worker or geriatric care manager evaluates a person's ability to carry out these tasks.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers detailed information about ADLs.

CCRC, or continuing-care retirement community

A CCRC is also known as a life-care community. These communities are generally on large campuses and include various facilities such as independent-living centers, assisted-living centers and nursing homes. This setting allows residents to move from one setting to another as their needs change. For example, a person may start living independently and then progress to an assisted-living center as he or she requires more assistance.

I recommend: AARP explains various aspects of continuing-care retirement communities, including living spaces, costs and entry requirements.

Medication management

An average and healthy senior citizen takes approximately four to five prescription medications on a daily basis. Managing all of these medications can be challenging. Medication management involves reviewing all medications, accompanying clients to doctor appointments, setting up and helping manage pill boxes, and training caregivers in management strategies.

I recommend: Advocare offers specific information about various components of medication management in seniors.

IALDs, or instrumental activities of daily living

IALDs are more complex and detail-oriented activities than ALDs. For example, one IALD involves the ability to locate and utilize resources and telephone numbers. Other IALDs include shopping, cleaning, managing medication, managing finances and driving or identifying modes of transportation.

I recommend: For additional information on IALDs, go to Gilbert Guide.

National Center for Assisted Living

The National Center for Assisted Living focuses on serving the needs of assisted-living centers. Specific activities of this organization include national advocacy, education, networking, professional development and quantity initiatives.

I recommend: Visit the NCAL for additional information about NCAL's activities.