Enhanced ALR- Residents "may require assistance to get out of a chair, need the assistance of another to walk or use stairs, need assistance with medical equipment, and/or need assistance to manage chronic urinary or bowel incontinence."

Special Needs ALR- Residents require special needs, "for example Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia."

Other requirements of all ALRs in Rochester are 24-hour on-site monitoring, daily meals, and case management services. Another important aspect of ALRs is the Residency Agreement. This is a contract between the care provider and the resident, spelling out the living arrangements, services, fees and refund policies, rules of the residence, discharge policies and the resident's rights.

For more information on assisted living facilities, regulations, and licensing, go to the New York Department of Health .

Though the overall cost of living in Rochester is equal to the national average, the cost of long-term care is significantly higher. A private, one-bedroom in a Rochester assisted living facility averages $3,700 a month, according to a recent Genworth Financial survey on long-term care. The national average is $3,261. Nursing home costs are exorbitant. For a private room in a nursing home, expect to pay $334 a day on average--a semi-private averages $322. The national average for a private room is $213 a day.

Active seniors will enjoy exploring the Genesee Riverway Trail(GRT) in Genesee Valley Park, a 16-mile trail that links 11 city parks. The Feel Great Pass($5 a year) gets local seniors discounts for city recreational programs and including water classes and pool admissions, skate rental, educational and leisure activities and more.

Visit the Rochester Public libraryand any of its 10 neighborhood branches. In the summer, the city is overflowing with events such as the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Party in the Park Concert Series, the Harbor and Carousel Festival, the Park Avenue Arts Festivaland many others.