Making the decision to move a loved one into a senior living community can be challenging and difficult.   Finding the right facility is often overwhelming and confusing.  The decision should be based on your loved ones physical, social, mental and health needs.  Keeping these all this in mind can help make the decision simple.  Here are some pros and cons to assisted living and nursing homes to help you better understand both.

Assisted Living

Assisted living does just that:  the staff assists the resident with activities of daily life.  The residents at the facility are still active and can manage most of their daily needs.  They don’t require constant monitoring or significant regular medical care. Additionally, autonomy is encouraged and privacy is respected. Residents enjoy personal freedom, but have assistance nearby if they do need it.  Good assisted living programs have many planned activities that encourage all different skill sets, which allow residence to maintain their independence longer.

Pros:

  • Assistance with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, and eating
  • Adapts to changing needs
  • No need to maintain a home
  • Greater privacy and a home-like setting
  • Opportunity to socialize with scheduled activities
  • Lower cost than a nursing home

Cons:

  • Although they are regulated by the state they are not by the Federal Government.
  • Does not have extensive medical care on premises

Nursing Home 

In contrast, a skilled nursing facility has skilled, licensed nurses and other medical professionals on staff. Nursing home residents rely on assistance with most or all activities of daily living, such as meals, bathing, dressing and using the restroom. Residents, due to more severe cognitive and health-related conditions, get more individual medical attention and monitoring. Their personal freedom is more restricted due to dementia, and other mental and physical challenges. Ultimately, residents can’t live independently.

Pros:

  • 24/7 round the clock medical care
  • Licensed nurses and other medical professionals on staff
  • Regulated by the Federal Government
  • Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance may cover some costs

Cons:

  • Average monthly costs tend to be higher than assisted living
  • Limited personal freedom
  • Limited autonomy
  • More hospital-like than homey

Still unsure which is the best choice for your loved one? Contact us and we’ll do our best to help you decide which is a better fit for you or your loved one