It’s estimated that by 2040 there will be nearly 80.8 million older adults in the United States. As the older population grows in size so does the need for care options. Unfortunately, care for the elderly is far from a one-size-fits-all solution.
That’s because the right option can vary widely depending on factors like the level of care required, personal preferences, and financial situations. While there are many different options available, two are perhaps the most common: assisted living and nursing home.
So exactly is the difference between assisted living versus nursing home care? And how do you choose the option that’s best for your loved one? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can make the best choice based on your needs.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities are long-term residential solutions for people who need help with the activities of daily living. It’s one of the most popular types of senior care in the United States.
It’s estimated that there are nearly 30,600 assisted living communities found in the country. However, it’s important to note that compared to other seniors, people in assisted living are relatively independent. They want to do activities and have social interactions.
Assisted living communities are great for this. They provide a setting for meeting like-minded individuals. If individuals want alone time, they can relax in their apartment.
However, they can socialize and eat with others in the dining areas. There are typically numerous activities and events to take advantage of. This can foster a sense of belonging that’s all too often missing from many senior citizen care options.
What Is a Nursing Home?
Some seniors have more serious medical care requirements than others. While these individuals don’t need to be hospitalized, their care does require them to be monitored 24/7.
For these individuals, nursing homes are typically the best option available. Nursing homes provide a lot of the same services as assisted living communities.
However, they also provide more intensive care and offer additional services, like speech or physical therapy. If the individual has a chronic condition, a nursing home might be a permanent option.
That being said, usually, they’re short-term in nature. If someone is injured, they might go to a nursing home to get the local senior care they need until they recover.
Assisted Living Versus Nursing Home Care: The Differences
The main difference between these two options is the level of care the resident will receive. With assisted living, the individual will only receive some care surrounding their daily living.
Nursing homes, on the other hand, have 24/7 intensive care. The style is also quite different. The living options for assisted living communities look and feel a lot like apartments. The common dining areas often feel a bit like restaurants.
Many might even have bars. Nursing homes look a bit more institutionalized. That’s because they need to be able to provide hospital-level care around the clock. Nursing homes do provide activities to enrich their residents’ lives.
However, as a rule, they tend to be more medical. Assisted living caters more closely to the recreational, health, and social needs of its residents. The last big difference is the cost.
As you might guess, nursing homes tend to cost a lot more than assisted living communities.
The specific amount will depend on the community. However, on average nursing homes cost $8,390 per month for a shared room and $9,584 for a private room. These figures tend to be twice as much as the typically assisted living community costs.
Which One Is Right for My Loved One?
The right option for your loved one will ultimately depend on their medical needs and preferences. If your loved one only requires mild nursing assistance with some day-to-day things, assisted living communities are the right option.
For example, they might need help eating or bathing. Or, you might be worried that they could have a heart attack. Assisted living communities give these individuals access to the immediate care and medical attention they might need.
More importantly, assisted living can improve their lives. Social activities and events can help them make new friends. On-site exercise facilities can improve their fitness levels. Tasty meal programs can improve nutrition.
On the other hand, if your loved one has a chronic condition that requires constant attention and help, nursing homes would be the better option. Some examples might be if they can’t eat on their own or struggle with excessive mobility problems.
Nursing homes are also a good option if they need to recover from an intense injury like a fall. The gray area for care involves memory conditions like dementia.
In many cases, individuals with advanced dementia might benefit from nursing home care. That being said, many assisted living communities cater their living options toward people in these situations.
How to Find the Best Assisted Living Communities
When looking for the best assisted living communities you should make sure you’re considering the desires of your loved one. This goes outside of care requirements and extends to how they’ll be living.
If the individual is still fairly active, there should be plenty of amenities to keep them busy. What’s more, these amenities should align with their interests whether that’s in sports or arts.
Online reviews can be a good way to determine if other residents are satisfied with their level of care. Once you have a few good options on your list, schedule a visit.
Pay close attention to the surroundings and how the other residents act. This will give you a better idea of whether or not it’s a good fit.
Want the Perfect Assisted Living Community? Tour Discovery Village At Deerwood
We hope this guide helped you learn more about the difference between assisted living versus nursing home care. Here at Discovery Village At Deerwood, we know that when it comes to care in retirement communities, no two cases will look the same.
That’s why we’re dedicated to providing you or your loved one with personalized living solutions. So if you want to discover more about the many rooms, amenities, and activities we offer, schedule your tour with us today.
