What Assisted Living Is
Assisted living communities are licensed residential settings that provide housing; personal care; wellness, social, recreational, and health-related services such as nursing and dementia care; and 24-hour access to staff. These communities’ core principles include person-centered services and policies, as well as an adequate number of well-trained, supported staff. Person-centered services and policies promote quality of life, privacy, choice, dignity, inclusion, and independence as defined by each individual and those who know them best.
In the U.S., assisted living is the largest provider of residential long-term care (excluding post-hospital rehabilitation), and the largest provider of residential care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Currently more than 800,000 older adults reside in almost 31,000 assisted living communities across the country.
What CEAL@UNC Is
The original Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) was formed as a result of the first recommendation in the landmark Assisted Living Workgroup report, delivered to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in 2003. For 20 years, CEAL thrived as a unique collaborative of diverse national organizations that work closely together to promote excellence in assisted living.
In 2023, CEAL became CEAL@UNC, which maintains this national collaborative and goal. CEAL@UNC has expanded capacity to develop evidence, bolster the workforce, and promote the adoption of evidence-based practices and policies, all toward advancing the well-being of the people who live and work in assisted living.
