Rest Home Vs Assisted Living

Assisted Living Vs Nursing Home: Duration Of Stay

Depending on the services that the assisted living facilities offer, senior citizens may end up staying many years in their new living quarters. Some senior living facilities make it possible for residents to receive continuing care services and accommodations and spend the rest of their lives without moving to any other place. Such facilities are called continuing care retirement communities, and they generally include both independent living, assisted living and even nursing homes all in one community.

Many people who end up in nursing homes do not stay more than half a year in the institutions. Because a majority of occupants go to nursing homes to receive rehabilitative care after incidents like heart attacks or stroke, they only stay for a couple of months before going back home or seeking alternative senior care options. There are some older adults who end up staying several years in nursing homes, but this isnt the norm.

What Is The Difference Between Assisted Living And A Nursing Home

In general, assisted living is for people who might need help with daily tasks. Nursing homes are for people who need a higher, more consistent level of care, often round-the-clock. Both assisted living facilities and nursing homes offer some of the same essential services, but studying the differences below can help you decide which type of care you need.

Common Types Of Residents

When it comes to weighing nursing home versus assisted living options, it’s essential to understand who is best served by each type of facility. That way, you can feel more confident in your decision-making while potentially avoiding a costly or unnecessary move later on.

Assisted living is usually suitable for people who:

• Are open to the idea of getting assistance
• Can benefit from a more socially engaging living environment
• Are able to walk or use mobility devices on their own
• Need a limited amount of supervision or personal care assistance
• Are lucid or have only mild cognitive problems
• Want or need to be free of the responsibilities of home ownership

Nursing home care is often necessary for people who:

• Need daily medical care and/or a lot of personal care assistance
• Aren’t able to walk or get around in other ways without help
• Are too sick or frail for home care
• Need round-the-clock supervision or monitoring
• Have severe problems with incontinence
• Are likely to need frequent visits to the hospital
• Have moderate to severe cognitive problems
• Have complicated medical, emotional, or mental conditions
• Resist when being given assistance
• Display problematic behaviors

As you can see, many assisted living facilities welcome residents who have early- to middle-stage dementia, including people with Alzheimer’s disease. When those residents require 24-hour supervision , they often need to move into nursing homes that have special memory care units.

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Paying For Assisted Living

Medicaid may help cover the cost of assisted living communities, although it is important to note that not all senior living communities accept Medicaid. Beyond Medicaid, some states offer Assisted Living Waivers that may help offset the costs of this type of care.

You can learn more about financial assistance and ways to pay for assisted living by reading our page on Financial Planning for Senior Living.

Assisted Living Vs Nursing Home: Admission Requirements

The best candidates for assisted living communities are independent individuals who can still handle a bulk of their day to day activities without requiring a lot of assistance. It is because assisted living facilities typically assist retirees with self-care while offering more independence and privacy to the older generation.

Because they take care of the elderly only, most occupants in assisted living communities are usually in their eighties. Many facilities will also not admit individuals who are younger than fifty-five. Studies also reveal that a majority of residents in the residential care facilities for the elderly are usually women because many outlive males who belong to the same age-group.

Adults who reside in assisted living facilities can be afflicted with early stages of Alzheimers. Most of them converse coherently, and they can also comprehend directions without too much trouble.

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Choosing Whats Right For You

Spend time considering whether home care or assisted living is right for you or your loved one. Both have similar goalshelping seniors age while staying as independent as possible. The most important thing is that you choose what will keep everyone happy, healthy, and safe without breaking the bank.

After deciding whats best, search for a qualified caregiver or facility. Look through our provider directory or call us on our helpline. Were happy to help you find the best care in your area today.

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Assistance With Daily Activities

Assisted living

If residents of an assisted living facility need help with daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed, those services are provided.

Laundry, housekeeping, and meal preparation services are available to residents who need them.

Nursing home

In a nursing home, most people need more extensive help caring for their daily needs.

Staff members help residents bathe, dress, use the restroom, and take their medications. Meals are prepared by a kitchen staff, and the staff take care of laundry and cleaning for the residents.

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Tips For Talking To Aging Parents About Moving

These decisions can be overwhelming, and sometimes adult children can feel extremely guilt ridden over placing their parents in a facility. It can also be very difficult to convince an older loved one that he or she can no longer live independently. Many older adults resist this transition because they may feel like theyâre being forced out of their homes and relinquishing their independence. Here are a few tips to ease this process:

• Know your options: Know about different types of care available in your community and your/your parentâs financial situation
• Have ongoing and early conversations about future plans: It will be less threatening if thereâs not an immediate need
• Encourage your loved oneâs involvement in these decisions: If healthy enough, have them come with you to tour facilities and allow them to voice their preferences
• Be positive about housing options: Use a positive tone of voice and be cognizant of your language
• Recognize why they may want to stay at home: If home care is not possible, discuss their needs and do what you can to support their control and independence
• Learn about the progression of their illness: If your loved one has a progressive disease like Alzheimerâs, know what to expect with time and research the services provided by different facilities. You may not want their life to be disrupted multiple times as their disease worsens.

When Is It Time For Assisted Living

Assisted living comes in a broad spectrum of forms designed to help seniors age in place for longer. For some, it’s a way to downsize into a new home for the long term. For others, it’s a way to maintain independence, even though they need some help with daily self-care. Ultimately, focus your decision on the priority needs. Below are six signs that it might be time to consider assisted living:

• Increase in injuries: You or your loved one is falling or sustaining injuries more frequently.
• Worsening health conditions: The person has diabetes, arthritis, or macular degeneration.
• Cleanliness: The individual is experiencing difficulty keeping the house clean or maintaining personal hygiene
• Depression and loneliness: You or your loved one is experiencing increasing feelings of sadness or isolation.
• Withdrawal: The senior’s engagement with people or activities is declining.

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The Food Will Not Taste Good

We all have our favorite foods, and maybe even one or two items that just dont make the cut. The idea that we might not have control over our daily meals is likely to be a cause of some frustration, but you will not find this to be an issue at Sunset. Delicious and balanced meals are prepared daily, guaranteeing there is something for everyone.

Assisted And Independent Living The Monarch Way

Family members can get peace of mind that their loved ones will always receive the right level of care spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically at Monarch Communities®. The Monarch Metamorphosis encourages staff to see residents from a lens that is telling of their larger story. Put simply, our independent and assisted living team members look at the entirety of an individual and their past experiences, versus just this stage in their life.

After all, recognizing their total being while still creating new opportunities for them to enjoy every day in a dignified manner will create a better quality of lifewhether its in independent living or a higher level of care like assisted living.

But our network of communities doesn’t just offer these two options! We want to help every senior find a place to call home, which is why we also have a variety of memory care options. This is in addition to respite care services for family caregivers who need a brief respite from caregiving duties. Rest assured that our short-term respite care residents are treated just as warmly as our full-time residents. No matter how long your stay is with us, know that we consider you to be fully part of our community.

Come visit us and see how we are changing the way seniors and their families think about senior living.

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Assisted Living Vs Nursing Home: Types Of Care Services

Assisted living communities offer help with daily living responsibilities that include:

• Bathing

• Karaoke
• Gardening and book clubs

Most assisted living facilities feature communal areas where peers can socialize as they get to know each other. Most assisted living facilities are pet friendly, while pets are not allowed in nursing homes at all. Even though they typically do not get licenses to offer medical services, today some assisted living communities have specialized areas where they look after elderly residents who have memory care issues. Some facilities even make it possible for their occupants to age in place, by offering continuing care retirement services, making sure that the facilities meet the ever-changing needs of the seniors all throughout retirement.

Personnel who work in assisted living facilities also strive to offer life enrichment to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the older adults, making sure that they are happy and content and look forward to each day of their formative later years.

Nursing homes are very different from assisted living facilities. In addition to the personal care services and medication management and administration, nursing homes also offer skilled nursing services and medical treatments. A majority of people who stay in nursing homes come straight from the hospital where they were getting treatment for a particular disease or have gone through surgical procedures.

What Is Senior Assisted Living

Senior assisted living is an umbrella term that defines all types of housing facilities for seniors. This includes assisted living communities, nursing homes, memory care facilities, and adult family homes. In other words, any service or facility that houses senior, whether in independent apartments or in a supervised community falls under the bracket of senior assisted living.

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Nursing Home Vs Assisted Living: Personnel

Assisted living facilities for the elderly commonly employ certified caregivers who look after the occupants. Other professionals who work in assisted living homes may include administrators, directors, admissions coordinators, housekeepers, nurses, dining staff, volunteers, and aides.

As compared to assisted living, nursing homes collaborate closely with nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel like physical therapists, dieticians, and certified nursing assistants to provide the services that meet the medical needs of the occupants.

The staff members in nursing homes offer around the clock care for both physical and mental issues. Support employees may include custodians, groundskeepers, and maintenance personnel. They are responsible for maintaining the appearance and functioning of nursing homes. Nursing homes also have either visiting doctors and nurses or have them on-site, and they regularly monitor things like blood pressure and medication. Because the level of medical care is much greater for nursing home patients than for assisted living residents, nursing homes also have visiting pharmacists who check each nursing home patient generally at least once per month to make sure they are taking proper medications.

When Is It Time For A Nursing Home

A transition from an assisted living community to a nursing home is a personal decision. A skilled nursing facility is designed to meet complex medical needs, whether those needs are simple pain management, more complex rehabilitation, or something in between. Residents in skilled nursing facilities typically need assistance with tasks that go beyond ADLs.

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Average Cost Of Assisted Living Facilities

In 2019, the median cost of assisted living in the United States was reported to be $4,051 per month. Many states do cover come assisted living costs under Medicaid. However, requirement eligibility varies widely between states. There are also many assisted living communities that are not covered at all, which will require all costs to come out-of-pocket.

Meaningful Programming To Keep Your Body And Mind Active And Healthy

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as you age is a physically active lifestyle. Walking, visiting friends and attending programs in your chosen community can all help you meet your exercise goals. Physical activity can help you live longer and healthier. It also reduces your risk of chronic health issues such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and it can help you sleep better while reducing anxiety and depression.

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Independent Living Vs Assisted Living What Is The Difference

If your loved one is considering making the move to a senior living community, make sure they move to a place where they will receive the best level of care to meet their needs. And if youre not sure where to start, youve come to the right place!

At Monarch, our vision and culture embody the residents we serve in both independent living AND assisted living. Therefore, we know a thing or two about the differences between each of these popular options.

Why are they so popular? Because they offer residents a great deal of freedom compared to memory care or skilled nursing care facilities . While were aware that many older adults want to remain in their houses for as long as possible, those of us at Monarch believe that life doesnt stop when moving into assisted living or independent living rather we see our residents as simply embarking on a new and exciting stage within the beautiful mosaic of human life.

While there is some overlap between these two types of senior living communities, they are not the same. Lets break it down to see which one might be the best fit for your aging family member.

How Do You Know What Type Of Facility Is Right For You Or A Loved One

It really comes down to you or your loves one health and how much help he or she would need with daily day-to-day operations. Ask yourself some of these questons:

• How much help do you need daily?
• Can you cook for yourself?
• Can you bathe yourself?
• Do you require any medical care because of decreased health?
• How do you plan on paying for this kind of service?

If you require a lot of help and need more care to handle cooking, bathing, and other routine tasks then a nursign home may be better suited for you or a loved one.

If you can still handle these types of task then as assisted living facility might be your best choice.

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Assisted Living Vs Home Care: A Comparison

How to approach elderly care is a tough decision for any family but whats the best solution for your loved one?

Depression, dementia, and chronic illnesses can be debilitating to many, and these diseases or behavioral health issues may not be treated as well by some at-home family caregivers.

Thats why many people are turning to assisted living communities as a long-term option that will allow their elderly loved ones to live out their days in comfortable surroundings while being supported by expert caregivers.

Assisted Living Facilities Helping Seniors Live Independently Away From Home

With assisted living, you or your loved one goes to the caregiver. ALFs offer shared or private room in a community of seniors. The room might have a kitchen, or it might just be a bedroom and bathroom. Its a lot different from a nursing home too. Theres no constant supervision or medical treatment. But, 24-hour personal assistance is available. Caregivers help with bathing, dressing, medication management, meal services, and transportation as needed. Housekeeping, laundry, physical therapy, and memory care might cost extra.

You might know assisted living facilities by another name. Some call it residential care, adult care home, or retirement home. For more information about assisted living facilities and who should apply for residence in these locations, take a moment to watch the video below on the topic from our YouTube channel.

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What Type Of Facility Is Right For You

The kind of facility thats right for you will depend on your health and how much help you need with daily activities.

Here are a few questions to help you decide which kind of facility is best suited to you or someone in your care:

• How much help do you need to take care of daily activities like bathing, dressing, and using the restroom?
• Do you need medical care for serious health conditions?
• Are you able to prepare your meals?
• How do you plan to pay for the care you need?

Once youve decided which type of facility best meets your needs, youll need to explore individual facilities to find a good match.

As you compare facilities, keep these questions in mind:

If possible, visit facilities more than once. Talk with friends, neighbors, colleagues, medical professionals, and local organizations that serve older adults to get a sense of which facilities provide the best care in your area.