You might be wondering what level of care an elderly family member might need as they transition from living on their own into a senior care centre. There are many options out there and it can be confusing to understand the difference and what is best for your loved one. As this is an important decision it’s important to do your research and get the facts.
The two main types of senior care centres are assisted living and nursing care. The biggest differences between these two types of living options revolve around the medical services provided which we will outline in more detail.

Understanding Senior Living Options

Residents in an assisted living community generally don’t require as much medical assistance as those who choose nursing care. Seniors in assisted living are more mobile and able than in nursing care and have less trouble walking, eating, dressing and bathing. They or their family have agreed that the senior cannot live independently and need help but don’t need full-time medical assistance.

Assisted living centres usually have nurses on staff to help residents with checkups and health issues but aren’t there full-time. Some assisted living facilities might have special care centres for residents with partial dementia or memory loss.

The Assisted living has a lot of different activities for residents including exercise classes, cooking classes, and outdoor activities like lawn bowling, shopping trips, and socials. Seniors in nursing care are usually a little more constricted in their mobility and therefore they can’t do as many activities as those in assisted living but there are still many events such as live music and other entertainment.

Residents in a nursing home require 24hr attention and care on-site to deal with the seniors more complex needs. Seniors in nursing care typically live with more complex health care conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, or a stroke and require the assistance of a skilled nurse or a doctor. For seniors in nursing care, they often benefit from continual physical therapy, rehab, and personalized doctor care.

Senior Housing Communities

One obvious difference when you tour an assisted living centre opposed to their appearance. Assisted living communities usually resemble apartment buildings and can include game rooms, theatres, and more communal areas. Nursing care centres generally look a little institutional because of the type of care provided is more medical focused and they have to emphasize resident safety and care. However, just because they can have an institutional look, doesn’t mean that their quality of life will decrease. Many seniors get the medical support they need at a nursing care centre for happier more fulfilled lives.

Help Finding a Senior Living Community

Making a decision for an elderly family member can be hard and we understand that it’s a difficult decision. If you need help determining what type of care your senior loved one needs, we invite you to call Lynn Valley Care Centre. If you want to learn more about what type of services Lynn Valley offers click HERE. Our dedicated team will be happy to answer your questions and get your search off to a productive start.