As you age, you may require more frequent full-time care that you can’t get at home. Assisted living communities and nursing homes are two examples of long-term care options. Here is a guide to understanding assisted living vs. nursing home.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a senior living option that is geared to assist residents with daily tasks and routine self-care. They often operate like retirement communities with additional healthcare support, although they do not usually provide extensive, round-the-clock medical care. Assisted living communities can range in size from a few dozens to a few hundred residents.
Residents in assisted living communities often have individual rooms, both shared and private, or apartments. As there are gathering areas located in the community, residents often mingle during mealtimes or for recreational activities. Medication management, housekeeping as well as rooms are all included in most assisted living communities. Some communities also mix independent living residences to establish hybrid communities, making it easier to transition from one to the other.
When to Consider Assisted Living
Assisted living encompasses a wide range of services aimed at allowing them to age in place for longer periods. For some, it’s a means of permanently downsizing into a new home. Others see it as a chance to keep their independence, even if they require assistance with daily self-care. Here are six signs it is time to move into assisted living communities:
- Increased injuries
- Worsening health condition
- Difficulty with basic self-care
- Feeling loneliness or depression
- Feeling socially disconnected
What Is a Nursing Home?
Nursing homes are long-term housing that provides a greater emphasis on medical care for persons with injuries, chronic illnesses, and those who require round-the-clock help. When people require more continuous medical care than assisted living can offer, they often migrate to nursing homes, although this is not necessarily a permanent solution. Some of the residents are merely there to heal and require dialysis or rigorous physical therapy every week.
The terms “nursing home” and “skilled nursing facility” (SNF) are frequently used interchangeably, however, they are different. Skilled nursing facilities offer a greater range of medical care for more urgent requirements, such as terminal sickness or 24-hour Alzheimer’s care. A licensed nurse must be present at least half a day for Medicaid-certified nursing homes, however, most nursing homes do not have staff or doctors for specialized treatment.
When to Move into a Nursing Home
Moving into a nursing home is a very personal and individual decision. For many, it entails a significant loss of freedom, which most people sensibly oppose. Here are some indicators that it’s time to move:
- A terminal or persistent condition necessitating round-the-clock observation or care
- Deteriorating emotional disorders or dementia-related diseases
- Multiple medical illnesses or deteriorating conditions
- Increased number of falls
Discover Assisted Living at TerraBella Southport
Looking for a retirement community? Choose our assisted living community! Here, you can experience superior care and services, and live your life to the fullest while getting additional help with daily living activities. Thanks to our various exclusive senior living programs and high-quality amenities, you will live a worry-free lifestyle with us. To learn more, do contact us!
