This handy community guide is for the elderly or their support system who are wondering how to best meet their needs as health declines, whether it is functionally or cognitively. A clear description of different senior communities and placement provided - adult family homes, continuing care communities, assisted living facilities and what to look for, to what rehabilitation in skilled nursing entails, to long-term care. Descriptions of functional and cognitive abilities and how they translate to "levels of care" are provided - from independent living, assisted living and all it entails with clear outline of each level (needing staff standing by, needing staff providing assistance). All the way up to needing 24-hour care or skilled nursing, and what it entails. - Levels of care outlined in checklist format - easy to use, simple format. - Are you searching your community for optimal placement for yourself, your partner, or parent? Use this Assisted Living checklist to help guide your process. - Are you curious what resources are available to cover the excruciating costs of placement that can meet you or your loved one's needs? Financial resources reviewed and what/who to ask for help provided. - Resources reviewed that are not only financial, but forms of informal support you can seek out in your community, as well as a myriad of helpful resources that can provide nutritional support, fall prevention, and more! Clearly describes what independent living, assisted living, standby assist (someone standing by), needing hands on assist (contact guard assist), to needing 24-hour care each entail - all levels reviewed in layman's terms. Levels of care translate to cost you pay in assisted living facilities as well as optimal setting to meet you or your loved one's needs. An easy to use, little book with descriptions of what each level of care looks like for the aging individual, honoring and acknowledging both unique strengths and weaknesses functionally and cognitively. Abilities are reviewed with corresponding level of assistance and care are reviewed at each level from independent, thru the Assisted Living continuum to needing 24-hour care. Written by seasoned Director of Social Services in Skilled Nursing, Lauren C. Reynolds. Lauren has helped thousands of patients discharge plan over the years from skilled nursing back home again, or to lower or higher levels of care that best meet patient's needs. She is sharing her basic knowledge gleaned from nearly a decade of helping thousands in her field in this book, as a simple tool to help others in this process. Family members are often tasked with helping their loved one find placement along the continuing care spectrum, as abilities can vary over time, waxing and waning. This process is often not linear or perfect. Balancing safety with individual choice while promoting a sense of dignity and autonomy is the optimal goal to assist in this process. Collaboration between the individual, their chosen advocates, the medical community, and providers can promote optimal outcomes and quality of life.