Housing and Long-Term Care Options

  • Senior housing refers to individual apartments in which residents may receive some services. Oftentimes, this means a daily meal with fellow residents. Added benefits to senior housing may include lounges and other common spaces, daily check-in services, and special safety measures. Some senior housing is subsidized by the government to make it more affordable.

  • Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are multilevel continuums that bring various facilities together, often on one campus, so that residents can stay in the same community as their needs change. Some CCRCs require a lifetime contract, and guarantee care at all levels, from independent living to skilled nursing. Other CCRCs charge a monthly fee.

  • Adult foster homes are private homes with family-style living, offering room, board and physical care for up to five people 24 hours a day. A wide variety of residents are served in adult foster homes, from those needing only room, board and minimal personal assistance to those residents needing full personal care and nursing tasks.

  • Assisted living and residential care facilities are attractive care options for people who can no longer live independently, yet want to maximize their independence while in the safety of a residential setting. Individuals who need assistance with daily living activities are offered personal care services, 24-hour supervision and assistance, health-related services and social activities. These facilities generally do not offer the intensive personal care provided by nursing facilities.

    In Oregon, the differences between assisted living and residential care facilities are generally in the physical structure and design. Assisted living facilities have private units or apartments; a kitchenette with sink, refrigerator and cooking appliance; and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with shower in each unit. Residential care facilities may meet assisted living structural requirements, but typically have shared or private rooms, and individual or common bathrooms.

  • Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, offer 24 hours of nursing care. In addition, they provide personal care, recreational activities, physical and occupational therapy, and three meals per day.

  • Specialized care units with programs and facilities designed for persons suffering from Alzheimer’s or other dementias are also available.