No abstract

Assisted living cannot be defined in a clear‐cut manner because the concept covers a wide range of congregate living arrangements, with numerous variations within each model. The original vision was based on in‐home models of care that provided services to meet the long‐term care needs of impaired persons, allowing them to “age in place” in the least restrictive environment for as long as possible in order to preserve their quality of life. The core values include resident autonomy and choice, social engagement, and privacy and dignity. Currently, the biggest problem in assisted living for policy makers and those in need of long‐term care is the relatively meager number of assisted living beds available to less affluent older people. Our primary goal should be to expand access for publicly supported residents and avoid regulatory schemes that would undermine the assisted living quality‐of‐life values.