Elderly care can come in many forms and it’s not uncommon to wonder what the difference between nursing home and assisted living is. Both types of facilities provide residential care for seniors to live in comfort and safety. However, the level of care provided by each is different with nursing homes providing a higher level of care while assisted living facilities offer a more independent living style with daily living assistance.
An alternative can be added to the nursing home vs assisted living debate, with home care services in Philadelphia being able to offer quality in-home care that allows seniors to receive care all within the comfort of their own home, allowing them to continue aging in place.
What is nursing home care vs. assisted living?
A nursing facility is a healthcare facility that provides comprehensive 24/7 skilled nursing care for individuals who have chronic conditions or disabilities that require constant care. This means that residents typically do not have much independence, and the living environment is more akin to a hospital. Nursing home care is also available
An ALF (Assisted Living Facility) is an elder care facility that offers a more independent living environment with a focus less on medical care but on assisting residents with their daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, laundry services, medication management, housekeeping and other personal care services.
The living situation of these kinds of care homes is more akin to apartments with living rooms for social interaction. An ALF may also offer residents transportation to appointments and places like adult day centers. In between a nursing home and assisted living facility are continuing care retirement communities which can take care of an individual’s needs as they change.
What’s the Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Home Care?
The primary difference between assisted living and nursing home care is the level of care provided to residents. A nursing home focuses on chronic care for individuals that need 24/7 skilled care to maintain their health while assisted living facilities provide some basic medical support with a lower quality of care but not around the clock nursing. Nursing homes may also have certain emergency alert systems, discharge policies and strict visiting hours to be conducted in common areas.
There is also a significant difference in the assisted living vs nursing home cost with nursing homes generally being more expensive than assisted living communities due to the medical care provided. Nursing homes may also have specialized equipment for general health care and elderly mental health needs due to them being skilled nursing facilities.
Choosing the Right Care for Your Loved One
There are many things you will want to consider when choosing the living arrangements for your senior parents or loved ones to ensure that they are comfortable and receive the level of care they need. Some things to keep in mind include:
Assess Your Loved One’s Needs
You will want to determine the level of medical care that your loved one requires for the maintenance of their health such as assisted living for dementia. If they require 24/7 medical senior care or have mental health issues, you may want the medical staffing of a nursing home or in extreme cases, hospice care. However, if they just need daily assistance, an assisted living geriatric care center may be better.
When deciding what type of residential care facilities may be a good fit for your loved one, you may want to consider getting them a care assessment and/or health assessment This can involve reviewing their sensory stimulation, personality changes, emotional outburst, mobility, and other health issues such as early-stage dementia essential for care planning and may help you learn more about placement criteria.
You will also want to consider their preferences for independence. A senior parent with depression may be better off having more independence with the living amenities and structure of an assisted living facility.
Explore Different Care Options
There are a range of options available for care from in home care to nursing home and everything in between. Options such as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) exist where the level of care can vary depending on needs, all in one location, allowing them to have extended care as their long-term care needs change along the nursing home timeline transition.
Additionally, your loved one may not need long-term care and may only need inpatient care for seniors at a convalescent home if they are recovering from a surgery or illness. This allows them to get the rehab assistance they need until they are recovered.
Check Qualifications and Experience
Regardless of what kind of elder care facility you are considering, you will want to review their caregiving staff’s qualifications and experience and keep in mind assisted living transition tips. You want to ensure that your loved one gets the care they require such as therapist visits if they need senior depression counseling or elderly anxiety support or if they need post-acute care after a hospital stay,
Prioritize Comfort and Compatibility
Your loved ones deserve to be in a comfortable environment that is compatible with their needs and wants. Some seniors may prefer a semi-independent lifestyle with plenty of living amenities such as a retirement home or assisted living for adults while others may prefer quality home care assistance in their own home even if you have parents with anxiety at home. As long as their health allows it, you should keep their personal priorities in mind.
Importance of Memory Care
Memory care facilities offer a lot of services but what is memory care? Memory care is a type of long-term care rehabilitation services that are designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, memory loss, sundowning, cognitive decline or cognitive impairment.
This specialized care can be offered at a memory care facility, memory care communities, or a memory care unit, however, memory care assisted living facilities exist and in-home memory care can also show incredible results. This care can manifest itself in therapy, support groups,a specialized memory care team, special care units, or an individual caregiver with specialized training.
Who Qualifies for Assisted Living or a Nursing Home?
Older individuals who need assistance with their activities of daily living, are in stable health, and are able to move around with minimal assistance often qualify for custodial care in an assisted living facility where they can receive part-time support and do things like adult day care. Assisted living insurance requirements may vary by policy.
Individuals who qualify for nursing home care are individuals who have conditions that require 24/7 skilled medical caregiving, are bedridden, need extensive mobility assistance, or need a nursing home for dementia care. However, there may be certain different requirements for nursing home living insurance that need to be met to qualify for payment.
Key Factors Influencing Costs Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes
The two main driving factors for costs of assisted living facilities and nursing homes are the level of medical care provided in the facility and the amenities offered to residents. The more medical care that is provided, including memory care, the more expensive a facility tends to be.
As such nursing homes often have a high staff-to-resident ratio, offer 24-hour supervision in a secure environment, are stocked with medical supplies, and have accreditation by state medical authorities. Some nursing homes may even have on-site health services such as dental care, speech therapy, wound care, assisted living memory care, and other care resources that make them more expensive.
Assisted living facilities, sometimes known as board and care homes, that are more like a retirement home with ample amenities also tend to be more expensive than more basic, affordable accommodations. Amenities that some assisted living facilities have include art therapy, recreational activities, social activities, outdoor courtyards, and more. Other things like the luxury of the living quarter and meal plans can also affect price.
Paying for Care
There are many options available to individuals to help with the cost of life care communities. Of course private pay is always an option, however, family involvement is important so be sure to do your research and financial planning to see if your loved one is eligible for things such as veteran’s benefits, private long-term care insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.
An elder law attorney, area agency on aging, or financial planner can often assist with care coordination for long-term care facilities in addition to end-of-life care planning and and an elder care locator
Ready to Explore the Best Option for Your Loved One? Schedule a Visit Today!
Sometimes neither nursing homes nor assisted living facilities are the best option for seniors, especially if they want to remain in their own homes. New Beginnings Home Care offers an alternative with quality in-home care that can let seniors continue with their life plan with the help of our professional caregivers for elderly individuals.
New Beginnings offers a wide array of services including assistance with daily living, companionship to act as depression care at home, memory care, respite care for family caregivers, and more. Contact New Beginnings today to schedule a consultation visit.