What is Assisted Living?

In Colorado, assisted living facilities and personal care boarding homes are referred to as assisted living residences. 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 severe and persistent mental illness. There are about 524 assisted living residences in Colorado (11/04). Any assisted living residence caring for 3 or more residents must be licensed.

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 274 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 including room, board and at least the following: personal services, protective oversight, social care and regular supervision available on a 24-hour basis.

Personal services include a physically safe environment, supervision, assistance with activities of daily living such as medication administration, bathing, dressing, eating, laundry, recreational activities and arrangements for transportation. Protective oversight includes monitoring the needs to ensure the residents receive the services and care necessary to protect their health, safety and well-being.

The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services 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 surveys and complaint inspections.

Source: Colorado Department of Public, Health & Environmental Health Facilities Division, www.cdphe.state.co.us