New York Assisted Living Care

An assisted living residence is a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to meet the needs -- both scheduled and unscheduled — of those who need help with activities of daily living.

These needs usually include meals each day served in a common dining area, housekeeping services, assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking, 24-hour security and staff availability, medication management, personal laundry services, and others.
*source: Assisted Living Federation of America, 1650 King Street, Suite 602, Alexandria, VA 22314-2747

Assisted living facilities tend to be very different from one another. An assisted living unit may be as grand as a small apartment with a tiny kitchen in a large complex or as modest as a shared room with little more than a bed and dresser for each resident. One can find an assisted living facility housing 100 residents and providing on-site nursing care two blocks away from another facility that houses six residents and employs a staff with no healthcare expertise at all.
*source: Assisted Living Consumer Alliance

In New York, Assisted Living:

• The state requires all residential facilities providing assisted living services obtain licensure as an adult home or enriched housing under NY law.
• State law requires facilities that advertise or market themselves as caring for people with special needs, such as dementia, receive Special Needs Assisted Living Residence certification.
• Facilities that want to admit or retain residents who exceed the retention standards for adult homes and assisted living, they must apply for and receive an Enhanced Assisted Living Residence Certificate.
• Some Medicaid reimbursement may be available for home care services under the Assisted Living Program .
• Senior housing options in New York are plentiful. They include:
  • Active Adult Communitiy: Age-restricted (often aged 55 and over) community of single-family homes, condominiums or cooperative units. It includes lifestyle amenities. This housing is NOT licensed by a government agency.
  • Senior Housing (With No Services)Restricted to seniors (and possibly younger adults with disabilities). Includes no supportive services or staffing to address the special needs of aging residents. This housing is NOT licensed by a government agency.
  • Supportive Senior Housing: Includes one or more of the following nonlicensed supportive services: meals / dining program, housekeeping / homemaking, transportation, socialization activities, laundry / linen services, various amenities and a resident advisor or services coordinator who helps tenants access other services. This housing is NOT licensed by a government agency.
  • New York State Licensed Adult Home: Housing for adults of all ages that provides private or shared rooms, meals, housekeeping, laundry / linen service, transportation, social activities, some personal care and 24-hour supervision to five or more adults. This housing is licensed and regulated by the New York State Health Department.
  • New York State Licensed Enriched Housing: Provides senior residents in apartment-housing with a package of services that includes: meals, housekeeping, homemaking / chores, shopping, transportation, social activities and some personalcare assistance.
  • Enriched Housing or Adult Home with Limited Licensed Home care Agency: Provides the services and staffing of the State's licensed Enriched Housing or Adult Home programs and also provides residents with additional personal care and health-related services. The Limited Licensed Home Care Agency is licensed and regulated by the New York State Health Department.
  • New York State Licensed Assisted Living Program: Provides nursing-home-eligible residents of Adult Homes or Enriched Housing with home health care in addition to the services routinely provided by the Adult Home or Enriched Housing operator. This program is licensed and regulated by the New York State Health Department.
  • New York State Approved Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC): Housing and care complex restricted to seniors. Includes independent living units (apartments and / or cottages), social activities, meals, supportive assistance and personal care all on one campus. Nursing home care also is included and may be provided on- or off-campus. Health-related and nursing care are licensed and regulated by the New York State Health Department.
  • Dementia care Facility: Specifically for people with dementia. Specially designed to address the needs of people with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia conditions. This housing is licensed and regulated by the New York State Health Department as Enriched Housing or as an Adult Home.
  • Shared Living Residence: Housing for two to ten people who live together as a family. Residency may be restricted to seniors or may be intergenerational. Tenants share the finances and upkeep of the residence. Each has a private bedroom and bath. May or may not include activities, supportive services or personal care services for tenants. Licensed and regulated by the New York State Health Department if personal care services are provided.