Rating 5, 0 (2) Assisted living facilities are often larger than residential nursing homes in terms of the number of residents. Regardless of the reasoning, moving a loved one from a separate residence to a care facility can be stressful. You'll want a place where you're comfortable leaving it, and often that comes down to choosing between a residential nursing home and an assisted living facility. In short, the main difference between the two is their size. Both options provide similar services, but assisted living communities can serve more residents.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to what you think best fits your needs. The term assisted living facility is used to describe a variety of facilities that provide housing and personal care. They include pension homes and nursing homes, which are usually six-bed facilities in residential housing, as well as much larger facilities. Some centers primarily serve adults under 60 (adult residential care centers) and others primarily serve adults 60 and older (RCFE residential care centers for the elderly). Assisted living centers usually provide residents with their own full room or suite, while nursing home residents often share a room with another resident.
Assisted living homes are perfect for older people who prefer to live in a home environment and don't need constant medical and personal care. Assisted living centers have large community spaces and offer more recreational activities than a nursing home would. If your state licenses nursing homes, you can check out surveys conducted by communities for older people in your area at local licensing offices. Assisted living centers provide a wider range of services, including access to health care and support for more complex needs, while residential nursing homes focus primarily on personal care and support with people living with older people.
In assisted living communities, residents often have an apartment or suite-like room without a roommate, allowing them greater independence. People who need a higher level of care may consider that a nursing home is the best option for them, but those who simply need general assistance during the day are not likely to adapt well. An RCFE provides non-medical care and supervision to people age 60 and older who may need help with activities of daily living. Assisted living residents can often drive alone in their own car and come and go as they please.
Medicaid not only helps low-income seniors pay for long-term care, it also helps pay for medical expenses. Nursing homes are specially designed to ensure optimal care and quick response times. If they prefer a more personal, homely environment, with a greater focus on personal care, a residential care home may be a better option. The main difference between assisted living homes and residential nursing homes is the level of care and support they provide. Assisted living centers provide a combination of housing, personal care and health services to those who need help carrying out activities of daily living (ADL), but who still want to maintain their independence.
While the two terms are often used interchangeably, assisted living facilities and nursing homes are actually two completely different things. If you're already looking for care centers for the elderly, you may be familiar with the terms assisted living centers and assisted living homes. The largest tend to have a single central location, while residential nursing homes are located in neighborhoods all over the world.
