Assisted Living Vs. Nursing Home: Understanding The Differences

It may come a time when your loved ones require more care than you are capable of providing. Depending on the level of care that they require, you may be wondering which is the best option for your loved ones, especially if independent living is not an option. While assisted living is akin to a senior living community with added healthcare support, a nursing home renders more medical assistance. Read on to gain clarity on the differences between assisted living vs. nursing home. 

Assisted Living

Older adults who are part of an assisted living community still retain a degree of independence, while receiving additional support in daily chores like showering, dressing, and walking as required. Continence management and nursing care are also provided under assisted living. In these communities, people have their own suites or apartments, while having access to common areas for dining and recreation, where they can socialize and enjoy the sense of belonging to a community.  

Assisted living members can also enjoy organized events and activities like scheduled trips to surrounding attractions. These include community dances, trips to the town, or assistance through transportation if your loved ones need to run errands in town. 

Nursing Home

Nursing homes provide a higher degree of care for older adults with chronic illnesses, injuries, or who require round-the-clock care. Other than assisting with daily chores and personal maintenance, nursing home services also include skilled nursing care, for instance, physical, occupational, or respiratory therapy. Members of nursing home communities can also be put under 24-hour supervision as they may suffer from terminal illnesses or debilitating emotional disorders like depression or dementia conditions. They may also be at risk of falling and attaining sprains or bone fractures and thus need closer supervision. 

Differences Between Assisted Living and Nursing Home

Below are some of the main differences between assisted living vs. nursing homes:

• Medication: Certain services come at an extra cost in assisted living as it is treated as an additional service. These can include medication management. Nursing homes include this as a routine part of their services, administering medication daily to their members. 
• Mobility Assistance: Members of an assisted living community can receive mobility assistance, but are still expected to be fairly mobile, while members in nursing homes may be wheelchair bound and receive more aid in terms of mobility. 
• Medical Visits: Members of assisted living communities would likely keep their own doctors and visit them on their own or with transportation services, while members in a nursing home generally rely on the in-house or visiting medical staff. 
• Cooking: The apartments in assisted living communities include kitchens where members can prepare their own meals, even if catered meals are available on schedule. Members of nursing homes leave the cooking to the kitchen staff and can also have their meals delivered to their rooms. 

Comprehensive Lifestyle

Our assisted living community provides comprehensive care for your loved ones while allowing them to retain their sense of independence, and our health and wellness program raises the mental and emotional well-being of our residents. Contact us today to find out more!