The Ultimate Assisted Living Guide: What You Can Expect in Assisted Living

Assisted Living is a type of senior living community that is designed for older adults who want to maintain their independence while receiving support with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and medication management. This Assisted Living guide will help you and your family understand what to expect from these communities, explore the services and lifestyle they offer, and make informed decisions about senior living options.

Unlike nursing homes, Assisted Living provides a supportive environment that balances independence with daily assistance, ideal for those who don’t need Skilled Nursing.

Residents enjoy personal care, nutritious meals, engaging activities, and a sense of community in comfortable, homelike living spaces with caring staff. For families, moving to Assisted Living ensures loved ones receive the right level of care while maintaining friendships, meaningful activities, and freedom from home upkeep.

What You Can Expect from an Assisted Living Community

Each Assisted Living community is unique, but most offer a similar foundation of care, comfort, and convenience designed to help residents thrive.

Supportive Care and Services

Residents receive help with activities of daily living (ADL), like dressing, bathing, and toileting, as well as medication management to ensure safety and consistency.

Many communities develop a personalized care plan to meet each resident’s needs—providing the right level of assistance while encouraging independence.

Other supportive services often include:

• 24-hour professional staff presence
• Scheduled transportation for errands and appointments
• Housekeeping, laundry, and linen services
• Building and grounds maintenance
• Emergency response systems for peace of mind

Lifestyle, Dining, and Socialization

Assisted Living emphasizes a vibrant, community-centered lifestyle. Residents enjoy restaurant-style dining in a welcoming dining room, often with chef-prepared meals that balance taste and nutrition.

Engaging programs and recreational opportunities foster connection and purpose. Many communities offer:

• Fitness and wellness classes
• Creative workshops and art classes
• Music, cultural events, and social gatherings
• Book clubs, movie nights, and game rooms
• Outdoor patios, gardens, and walking paths

For residents who need more specialized support, some communities also offer Memory Care neighborhoods with trained staff members who provide compassionate, individualized attention.

Comfortable Living Spaces

Accommodations range from cozy studios to spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans, complete with safety features, private bathrooms, and thoughtful design. Many include kitchenettes, large closets, and relaxing living areas that create a sense of comfort and home.

At Notre Dame Health Care, for example, residents enjoy thoughtfully designed apartments, an active social calendar, and a holistic approach to care that supports both body and spirit.

Assisted Living Guide Checklist

If you’re beginning your search for the right senior living options for yourself or a loved one, use this Assisted Living guide in your decision-making process:

1. Evaluate Needs and Preferences

• What level of care is needed for ADLs or medication support?
• Are there any mobility, dietary or health concerns to consider?

2. Explore Community Options

• Visit multiple senior living communities to compare services, amenities, and staff approach.
• Review sample activity calendars, menus, and wellness programs.

3. Assess the Environment

• Are the living spaces clean, comfortable, and inviting?
• Is the dining room welcoming, with nutritious meal options?
• Do residents appear happy and engaged?

4. Review Care and Safety

• Ask about personalized care plans and how often they’re updated.
• Inquire about staff training, security, and emergency procedures.

5. Understand Costs and Contracts

• Clarify what’s included in the monthly fee (meals, housekeeping, transportation, etc.).
• Ask about potential additional charges for increased care needs.
• Examine options like long-term care insurance to help create a financial plan.

6. Plan the Transition

• Involve family in planning and decision-making to ensure comfort and confidence.
• Discuss timing, support, and logistics for moving to Assisted Living.

Discover Assisted Living at Notre Dame Health Care

At Notre Dame Health Care, Assisted Living is designed to provide older adults with the right balance of personalized care, engaging activities, and comfortable, maintenance-free living—all within a supportive community. Take a look at the vibrant, supportive lifestyle that helps residents thrive:

Engaging Activities and Social Opportunities

Assisted Living at Notre Dame Health Care offers residents a vibrant, social lifestyle filled with enriching activities and opportunities for connection.

Whether it’s book clubs, art classes, happy hours or musical entertainment, residents can always find ways to stay active and engaged. Outings to local restaurants, cultural trips, and spiritual gatherings, such as religious services, foster a true sense of community and belonging.

Maintenance-Free Living

Notre Dame’s Assisted Living residents enjoy a carefree, maintenance-free lifestyle—no more home repairs, yard work or laundry.

Services such as weekly housekeeping, linen service, building and grounds maintenance, and scheduled transportation for appointments and shopping make daily life easy and worry-free.

Services and Amenities

Residents benefit from personalized personal care and medication management provided by compassionate staff members dedicated to supporting each person’s unique needs. Amenities include:

• Chef-prepared meals and daily snacks served in a welcoming dining room
• 24-hour staffing and security
• Beauty/barber parlor
• Card and game room
• Country kitchen
• Outdoor patios, gardens, and gazebos

Focus on Health and Wellness

Notre Dame Health Care embraces a whole-person wellness philosophy, supporting residents’ physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Programs such as exercise and yoga classes, walking groups, preventative care clinics, and discussion groups help older adults stay active and well. Nutritious meals and a supportive environment promote lifelong health and vitality.

Comfortable Living Spaces

Notre Dame offers a variety of floor plans, from cozy studios to spacious one- and two-bedroom living spaces designed with safety and comfort in mind. Residents are encouraged to personalize their apartments with their own furnishings, photos, and cherished belongings, creating a warm, familiar space that truly feels like home.

Features such as walk-in showers with safety enhancements, ample storage, and modern finishes create a home that’s both beautiful and functional—perfect for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying life.

More Questions About Our Assisted Living Guide?

Notre Dame Health Care (NDHC) offers a full range of post-acute programs and services, including Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing for Long Term Care, Rehabilitation, Adult and Pediatric Hospice Care, Adult, Pediatric, and Perinatal Palliative Care, and an educational resource center.

We embrace the individuality, spirituality, and wholeness of every resident, patient, family member, volunteer, and staff member in our community.

Notre Dame Health Care is proudly non-profit and honored to carry on the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to care for the sick and vulnerable and to educate for life through our NDHC Educational Bridge Center.

Contact us to schedule a tour of Assisted Living at Notre Dame Health Care and discover how our community can support you or your loved one’s quality of life.