One of the biggest decisions facing seniors and their caregivers today is choosing the right type of care to meet their needs.
It’s quite common to have a conversation about assisted living vs. nursing homes and which is the best choice. While the terms are often used interchangeably, the distinctions between an assisted living community and a nursing home are vast.
What Is Assisted Living?
In an assisted living community, seniors receive help with daily living activities, but not the constant medical supervision, care, and skilled nursing services found in a nursing home. Assisted living also creates a homelike environment that promotes independence.
Some core services in assisted living communities may include:
- Medication management and assistance with administration
- Assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Daily activities and social events
- Meals and snacks
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Transportation to appointments and local attractions
An assisted living community is a great fit for seniors who don’t have serious, acute health needs but may require assistance with day-to-day tasks and value their independence.
What Is a Nursing Home?
In a nursing home, residents often require medical care for serious conditions or chronic illnesses that necessitate 24-hour supervision. Seniors can enter a nursing home for a short amount of time to recuperate from an injury or surgery or live there long-term for ongoing care and supervision.
Some services found in nursing homes may include:
- Mobility assistance
- Nutritional services
- Speech, respiratory, physical, and occupational therapy
- Medication management
- Palliative care
While assisted living encourages more independence, nursing homes offer 24-hour medical supervision for residents who require a higher level of medical care, 24/7 skilled care, and services by a licensed nurse.
Comparing Living Arrangements
An assisted living community usually consists of private apartments or suites with private baths, living spaces, and kitchenettes. This type of setup enables residents to live privately with as much independence as possible.
A nursing home, on the other hand, usually has a private or semi-private room that does not include a kitchen or living room.
Activities and Community Engagement
Assisted living communities organize activities for seniors, which help them stay engaged mentally, physically, and socially. Activities may include:
- Gardening
- Group fitness classes
- Painting and art
- Music and singing
- Outings to local attractions and culture
- Crossword puzzles, trivia, word searches
- Games like bridge, canasta, and mahjong
These socialized activities in assisted living communities can help sharpen memory skills and improve cognitive function as well as promote positive interactions to build relationships.
Cost Considerations
Cost is a big consideration within the assisted living vs. nursing home conversation. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living estimate that the cost of assisted living in the U.S. is $4,500 monthly or $54,000 annually.
According to the National Council on Aging, the average monthly cost of nursing home care in the U.S. is $7,908 for a shared room and $9,034 for a private room.
There are a variety of ways to fund assisted living or nursing home care. Some of them may include:
- Personal savings such as a 401(k) or IRA account
- Social Security benefits
- Long-term care insurance
- Home equity loan or reverse mortgage
- VA care benefits for military veterans and their spouses
- Medicare or Medicaid
When it comes to paying for assisted living, many communities are private pay. Medicaid may cover some costs, depending on the state, but generally does not cover the room rate. Medicare does not cover the costs of assisted living.
Medicaid may pay the full cost of nursing home care for Medicaid-eligible seniors. Medicare, on the other hand, may pay up to 100 days in a nursing home, covering the full cost of the first 20 days and then having the resident pay around $200 per day.
However, there are other ways to finance your loved one’s care, including tax deductions and companion living.
A Variety of Care Options at Sunrise Senior Living
When finding the right type of care for your loved one, it’s important to assess their unique needs and seek professional advice. Creating a guide or checklist of a senior’s healthcare needs and personal preferences is a great way to start the assisted living vs. nursing home conversation.
Sunrise Senior Living offers best-in-class assisted living, providing expert, compassionate care while allowing residents to spend their time as they wish. With tailored services to meet seniors’ needs—whether it’s dressing, bathing, or medication management—an individualized Service Plan helps ensure residents’ desires are met. That even includes bringing your morning newspaper to your room and a glass of wine after dinner!
Reach out to your local Sunrise to find out more how we help seniors thrive and enjoy a vibrant lifestyle.