Assisted living communities and nursing homes are both types of long-term care facilities, but they offer very different levels of care, environments and services. We operate as Assisted Living or Assisted Living with Dementia Care, licensed with the state. The term “nursing
home” has been used generically to describe all senior living facilities, leading to much confusion, even to this day. Assisted Livings didn’t start until 1981, (much later than nursing homes), so it is understandable that today’s seniors may still not understand the differences between an assisted living and the traditional nursing home. Assisted livings were created to provide as much independence and autonomy to seniors in a residential like environment as they desire. It was another option for seniors who can’t or do not want to live at home any longer, but didn’t want to be moved into the environment of a nursing home. Peoples perceptions came from the historical beginnings of nursing homes where they were moreso seen as having poor conditions, an institutional feel and prominent for abuse and neglect. That is not the case nowadays about nursing homes so there is still a lack of awareness of what a nursing home is and also how they differ from assisted living. Since the beginning and potentially inproper practices, nursing homes have made vast improvements such as: enhanced living environments, person centered care, increased activities, better staffing and stricter regulations. With all that being said, below are some of the key summarized differences between assisted living and nursing homes to hopefully make the search and understanding easier.
Key Differences:
Assisted Living:
- Level of care: can provide non-medical care and assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and medications. Typically does not provide extensive medical care. We have a memory care attached to most of our communities, so that unit is able to take on higher levels of care, making a transition smoother for the resident and family.
Nursing Home:
- Level of care: provides 24 hour skilled or high level nursing care and medical services. Offers wound care, rehab services and specialized medical treatments. No independent care. Provides extensive medical care such as intravenous therapy and comprehensive rehabilitation services.
Assisted Living:
- Staffing: a nurse in on-call 24 hours a day, but does not need to be onsite 24 hours a day. Does not require licensed caregivers such as your CNA’s or Certified Nursing Assistants. Typically has less staff to meet the residents need due to lower levels of care.
Nursing Home:
- Staffing: a nurse must be in the building 24 hours a day. Requires only licensed CNA’s or TMA’s for caregiving.
Assisted Living:
- Environment: offers a more homelike living environment where you live in your own apartment that offers a kitchen or kitchenette, private/large bathroom and open concept living environment to bring all your cherished household items such as: couch, loveseat, any size bed and frame, nightstands, tv and so on.
Nursing Home:
- Environment: often more of a hospital-like environment with either shared rooms or private. The rooms are smaller without the apartment style accomodations such as kitchen and large bathrooms. Usually provided hospital sized beds.
Assisted Living:
- Cost: generally less expensive than nursing homes.
Nursing Home:
- Cost: typically more expensive than assisted living due to higher level of medical care.
Assisted Living:
- Independence: higher level of independence and more mobility of residents.
Nursing Home:
- Independence: residents generally have a lower level of independence due to more severe health issues, recovery or disabilities.
Despite these differences, there is a persistent stigma that associates assisted living with the old-fashioned nursing home model, causing reluctance among seniors and their families to consider assisted living as an option. This misunderstanding often prevents individuals from benefiting from the supportive and independent lifestyle that assisted living communities can offer, leading to missed opportunities for enhanced quality of life and social engagement. To overcome this stigma, it is crucial to educate your loved ones about the differences between assisted living and nursing homes and to encourage them to tour various facilities to see firsthand that assisted living is about “assisting the living” with services they need, rather than restricting their independence or quality of life. Visiting different assisted living communities allows seniors and their families to explore the amenities, meet the staff, and understand the range of services available, helping them make an informed decision that best suits their individual needs and preferences. There are so many benefits to a nursing home environment as well and it comes down to the individuals needs and preferences. While assisted living facilities are more suitable for seniors who are relatively independent and need up to moderate assistance with daily activities, nursing homes are ideal for those who require intensive medical care, constant supervision, and a higher level of personal care. Whether a person wants a senior care community solely for socialization in various activities or needs help with medications and services, assisted livings allow for that independence and more customization of services to meet specific needs rather than out of necessity of condition.
