Once your loved one decides not to age at home, you are faced with different senior living options. Now, you ask yourself different questions to determine which ones are most appropriate for your loved one. Understanding the differences in these senior living options is important to ensure your loved one’s comfort.
Sometimes, primary caregivers are left with choosing between nursing homes and retirement communities. Both senior living options are suitable; however, the needs of your loved ones will determine your choice. These are some differences between nursing homes and retirement communities in Spartanburg, SC:
Length of Stay
The needs of each resident will determine their length of stay in senior living; however, most residents in nursing homes spend less than a year. So, the length of stay can be between months to several years, depending on the care needed. Most times, residents in nursing homes are transferred from the hospital or need medical care.
Aging adults are moved into the community not because they have a health decline but because they want to be surrounded by like-minded people. On the other hand, retirement communities are for residents who would like to age among people of the same age. This means, the length of stay is not defined, they stay longer, and the community adjusts care and service as needed.
Dining Option
Both senior living options offer dining options to ensure the residents stay healthy. However, the dining options at nursing homes are based on aging adults’ medical needs and do not always contain varieties.
On the other hand, retirement communities offer dining services to the preference and needs of the residents. The meals are prepared according to the medical needs of residents; however, it offers options for maximum satisfaction. Professional chefs prepare restaurant-style meals, and residents have different options.
Activities and Events
Your loved one has opportunities to engage in activities in nursing homes and retirement communities. Nursing homes offer different activity options targeted toward the resident’s medical needs. On the other hand, retirement communities have a variety of activities and events to help residents improve every aspect of their lives. These activities include fitness classes, happy hours, book clubs, games, and many more.
Payment Coverage
Health insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare programs cannot cover expenses in a retirement community. Residents can use a long-term care insurance policy to cover the cost of these communities. Most times, residents cover the costs themselves.
On the other hand, Medicaid, Medicare, private health insurance, and long-term care insurance policies can cover nursing homes. Aging adults must meet certain conditions before using the payment options mentioned earlier. Also, aging adults can decide to pay these costs themselves.
Care Options
Care options in nursing homes are mostly limited than in retirement communities. For example, nursing homes only focus on helping aging adults recover from an illness or heal after surgery. In contrast, retirement communities focus on the overall satisfaction of the residents. It covers medical care and other life-enhancing activities to improve their overall well-being.
Against the one-size-fits-all care in nursing homes, retirement communities have more flexible care options to support residents.
