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, and it can be confusing to understand the difference between them. As this is an important decision, it’s essential to do your research and get the facts. Assisted living and nursing care are the primary types of senior care homes. The most significant differences between these living options revolve around the medical services provided.
What Is Assisted Living?
Residents in an assisted living community generally don’t require as much medical assistance as those in nursing care. Seniors in assisted living are more mobile and able than in nursing care. Usually, they have less trouble walking, eating, dressing and bathing. They or their family have agreed that the senior cannot live independently but don’t need full-time medical assistance.
Assisted living centres usually have nurses to help residents with checkups and health issues but aren’t there full-time. Some assisted living facilities have special care centres for partial dementia or memory loss residents.
Assisted living offers many different activities for residents. Such include exercise classes, cooking classes, and outdoor activities like lawn bowling, shopping trips, and socials. Seniors in nursing care are usually more constricted in their mobility. Therefore they can’t partake in many activities as those in assisted living. However, 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 more complex needs. Seniors in nursing care typically live with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or a stroke and require the assistance of a skilled nurse or a doctor. Seniors in nursing care often benefit from continual physical therapy, rehab, and personalized doctor care. Visit Comfort Life, Canada’s #1 Retirement Guide, for more information on personal senior care services.
Senior Housing Communities
Another noticeable difference between assisted living centres and nursing homes is 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 as they offer medical-focused care, and they have to emphasize resident safety and care. However, just because they can have an institutional look doesn’t mean their quality of life will decrease. Many seniors get the medical support they need at a nursing care centre for happier, more fulfilled lives.
Need Help Finding An Assisted Living Community
Selecting an assisted living community for an elderly family member can be challenging. We understand that it’s a difficult decision. If you want to learn more about the kind of services Lynn Valley offers, don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help determine what type of care your senior loved one needs. Our dedicated team will be happy to answer your questions and get your search off to a productive start.
My sister noticed that our grandmother is having difficulty doing her daily routine especially after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Thanks for mentioning that nursing homes provide 24-hour care to their patients for any of their needs. I think it might be time to put my grandmother in a nursing home so she can be assisted by trained nurses with her activities.
knowing about the difference between assisted living and nursing care is important. Thanks for sharing.
Hi there! Lately, my grandmother has been searching for a suitable way to spend her post-retirement days without bothering her family members. Luckily, your article did mention that most assisted living facilities have a more casual and laid-back atmosphere. I’ll let her know about this information when she consults with an expert regarding this matter later.
It sure was interesting when you said that assisted living facilities can include game rooms, theatres, and more communal areas, and they usually resemble apartment buildings. This sounds like a good choice for my 68-year old mother who is planning to move to a facility starting next year. She wanted to be with seniors like her and be able to enjoy life at the same time, so I will share this with her.
You got my attention when you said that assisted living facilities conduct a lot of activities for residents to keep them socialized. This is a good tip for my 72-year old mother who wants to find a place where she can move to next year. She said that she wants to find a community where she can find friends of her age without getting bored, so I will share this with her.
OMG! Thank you for such detailed explanation. When you mentioned that many assisted living facilities provide numerous activities for the residents, it really enlightened me. My next door neighbor keeps wondering if he should send his grandfather o such places, considering he’s living alone at the moment. I’ll share this article with him so he’ll choose the right place for him later.
Good day! It’s kind of comforting (for me, at least) knowing that most nursing facilities offer round-the-clock services for the inhabitants there. My neighbor’s grandmother has been living alone for almost a month now and it seems like she really needs outside help to run her daily chores. I’ll share this article with her so she can make further consultation with a professional about this matter.
Well, I found this article interesting and beneficial. Great work, such an informative article.