Nursing homes provide 24-hour nursing care and supervision. Nursing homes are known by many names, such as: skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, sub-acute facilities. Generally, a nursing home is a place of residence that provides rooms, meals, recreational activities, and help with activities of daily living: eating bathing, dressing, toileting, and walking. A typical nursing home resident needs help with three of these daily activities. Nursing homes differ in the levels of care they provide, from custodial to highly skilled nursing (similar to hospital nursing care). Nursing homes may have specialty care units for Alzheimer’s patients or those requiring cardiac or respiratory care. Additionally, long-term care includes medical and non-medical care to people who have a chronic illness or disability.
Assisted living facilities also provide assistance with activities of daily living while helping people live as independently as possible. An assisted living facility is not an alternative to a nursing home; instead it is an intermediate level of long-term care that bridges the gap between independent living and nursing home care. Residents in assisted living centers are not able to live alone, but they do not require constant care either. Typically, assisted living facilities help with eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping, and medications.
Making the decision on nursing home or assisted living care can be stressful for both the resident and the family. It is important to be as informed as possible to avoid having to move the resident, due to a poor choice, after he/she has settled into his/her environment. Additionally, if you have many choices of high-quality nursing homes or assisted living facilities in your area, it is a good idea to consider the location of the nursing home. A close facility will make it easier to visit frequently.
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