When it comes to the difference between assisted living vs. nursing homes in Lawrenceville, GA, you will need to understand what you should expect from each of them. The truth of the matter is that they are not the same and offer starkly different services. However, there are common features, which is what sometimes leads people to regard them as the same. In this article, we look at the difference between the two and what services they each offer.
Assisted Living Communities
Sometimes, your loved one may require help in order to perform everyday activities. For example, as the years go by, certain medical conditions may set in that may force your loved one to require help. For example, people with joint problems may struggle with activities such as housekeeping, cleaning and cooking. Similarly, people with memory loss problems may struggle with activities such as shopping, running errands and so on. In an assisted living community, your loved one gets the help they require with some of these tasks. The great thing about assisted living communities, your loved one can pick and choose what assistance they need, and what they don’t need. This helps them to maintain a fairly reasonable degree of independence.
Nursing Home
When it comes to nursing homes, these offer medical support and care, especially if you are recovering from surgery or need special medical care. Nursing homes are staffed by medical experts and, depending on the type of nursing home, can offer a variety of medical care. These could include wound care, ensuring that your vitals are taken as indicated by the doctor and even helping you with your medication. This specialized care is what sets nursing homes apart from assisted living communities. Nursing homes will also offer the same support for your loved one just like assisted living communities. They help with housekeeping, laundry and much more.
When You Need Either
You may be wondering if your loved one needs a nursing home or an assisted living community. Here are some guidelines that can help you figure out what you need.
Do They Need Specialized Care
If your loved one is recovering from surgery or an illness that requires specialized medical care, a nursing home may be a better option for them. This is because the experts in nursing homes are able to keep your loved one under constant observation for 24 hours a day. If your loved one simply needs assistance with day to day living, then it is easier for them to sign up for an assisted living lifestyle. This way, they get help with chores, errands and much more. Many assisted living communitie also offer memory care programs to help loved ones overcome problems associated with dementia. Assisted living communities are also great when family members are no longer able to give the care and attention that their loved one requires, perhaps due to work and other related obligations. Such families can have the peace of mind that their loved ones are getting the care and attention that they require at he4 assisted living community.
