Independent Living	Congregate Housing/Senior Retirement Housing - A retirement living option offering individual fully functional apartments for residents in a community setting where meals may be shared and other social activities provided. Rental fees vary widely. Medical and nursing services are generally not available on-site.
Continuing-Care Retirement Community	A community with a variety of living environments and range of services from Independent Living to skilled nursing care all in one location. Often one enters into the independent living component and moves to the assisted living or nursing section as help/assistance is needed. The facilities provide a range of amenities not found in single-type living environments; however, the cost is often prohibitive. A large entrance fee of many thousands of dollars may be required followed by monthly rates that can also be expensive.
Assisted Living Facility	A residential apartment complex (11 or more-in Arizona) which caters to older adults by providing built-in care services and 24-hour on-call assistance. These residential settings maximize independence, but do not provide skilled nursing care. Most ALFs do not accept public financing and rely on private pay from residents or their families.
Board and Care Home aka Group Home	Adult Family Home/Adult Foster Care/Group Home - A private home/facility offering room and board (maximum of 10 residents). They help with daily activities, some cases, provides minimal nursing services, either on-site or by contract with an outside agency. These homes are not nursing homes. They are generally smaller than Assisted Living Centers and should be licensed.
Nursing Home	A facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care for individuals requiring a short stay to recover from an illness or hospital stay or for those who require long-term assistance. Medicare and Medicaid can cover costs of nursing home care provided certain requirements are met. Nursing home care averages around $3,300 per month, although it can often be higher.
Alzheimer's/Dementia Accomodations	Found in Assisted Living Centers, Continuing Care Retirement Communities or Skilled Nursing Homes, these units are designed to best care for and meet the needs of a person living with Alzheimer's Disease or other types of severe dementia. Costs related to this type of care are similar to that of nursing home care.