Dr. Sheryl Zimmerman, Executive Director of CEAL@UNC, is now a guest columnist in McKnight’s Senior Living. The first article in this regular series is “Toward a Common Definition of Assisted Living,” which promotes CEAL@UNC’s definition of assisted living for industry-wide use. This definition addresses the diversity of assisted living, while also highlighting person-centeredness, evolving resident needs, and the workforce.
CEAL@UNC’s assisted living definition 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.
Read the full column here:
