The coming of age for assisted living care: new options for senior housing and social work practice.

As the United States experiences substantial growth in its population that is 65 years and older, development of safe housing and compassionate care for seniors is becoming a priority domestic issue. Assisted living is one of the fastest growing types of senior housing in the nation, attracting residents with a perceived combination of security, personal care services, less restrictive homelike environments and emphasis on independence, privacy and personal dignity. As there is limited reference to assisted living in the social work literature, this article selectively reviews the broader literature on the aging U.S. population and their need, assisted living as a senior housing and care option, the characteristics of this approach and the potential for social work practice in this evolving arena.