Needing more assistance with daily tasks in our day-to-day lives is a natural part of aging. If you’ve noticed your loved one needing increasingly more and more support with everyday tasks daily, it’s a sign that you may need to research senior living options that can accommodate them better. Some choices can be difficult to choose between, such as assisted living vs nursing home facilities. Learning the difference between the two helps you make a more informed decision for your loved one.
Level of Care Received
This is one of the defining distinctions between these two living options. While assisted living communities do feature teams that support residents’ lifestyles through various services such as medication management and transportation, they usually involve a more independent lifestyle as compared to nursing homes. On the other hand, nursing homes are much more intensive in the care they provide. Individuals that require care at a nursing home usually have complex, chronic health conditions that are difficult to manage. Such conditions demand round-the-clock care from nurses and therapists. Some cases even require respiratory care services.
Programs Offered
Assisted living communities usually come with their very own unique sets of enrichment programs that allow them to enjoy perks and more independent, self-fulfilling lifestyles. Furthermore, they have access to social event calendars and transportation services that add to the recreational benefits of assisted living, strengthening the community they live in. On the other hand, nursing homes only offer limited recreational services such as home maintenance, meals, and laundry, since recreation is often not the focus of their facilities. Instead, most of the focus is directed toward managing residents’ health.
Living Environment
Assisted living communities usually comprise residents’ individual apartments or suites that they have all to themselves, not unlike private residences. They’re typically designed in a home-like manner, adding to the focus on independent day-to-day with minimal interference that assisted living communities have. In contrast to assisted living communities’ living situation, nursing homes typically have a more clinical, practical atmosphere that prioritizes residents’ safety. Residents of a nursing home usually have a private or semi-private room to themselves, without living rooms or kitchens.
Cost Factor
Assisted living is typically cheaper than nursing homes, due to the different types of residents they cater towards. The monthly median cost of assisted living communities is $4,300 a month. Nursing homes are a large leap from this figure, costing $7,908 a month for a semi-private room, and costing $9,038 a month for a private room. Hence, if your loved one doesn’t necessarily need round-the-clock surveillance and specialized medical attention, assisted living is the more cost-effective option, and most likely the more suitable option for them to enjoy a productive lifestyle.
Assisted Living at TerraBella Summerville
If you’re looking for an assisted living community, TerraBella Summerville is the perfect option for your loved one. Our stylish, resort-style homes are sure to impress your loved one and ensure a high quality of life for them that’ll last. Our team and the rest of the residents in our tight-knit community will be sure to welcome your loved one with open arms!
