Assisted Living VS Nursing Home Explained with Estimated Costs USA
With the growing options for long-term care, you can indeed find the best long-term care option that suits you or your loved one’s needs and preferences. For instance, two options you might be considering include assisted living and nursing home care.
That said, if you’re here to know which of the two options suits your loved one’s situation more, here is a guide on assisted living vs. nursing home explained with estimated costs in the USA. But before knowing their key differences, here are the general definitions of the following facilities below.
What to Know About Assisted Living
Assisted living entails living in housing or a residential community where residents can receive different levels of assistance through various personal and medical care services. The setup in assisted living is similar to a regular home, giving residents more freedom and independence to get some tasks done on their own.
What to Know About Nursing Homes
On the other hand, nursing homes are long-term care facilities that focus on providing extensive medical care for residents with chronic illnesses or injuries. Generally, nursing homes are catered to individuals who require constant care 24/7.
Assisted Living vs. Nursing Home: Going into Detail with Their Differences
The definitions above provide a general understanding of the two care facilities mentioned above. Here are their differences in detail below:
Provided medical services
Assisted living:
The provided medical services in assisted living depend on the level of assistance a resident requires. For example, staff would monitor residents to ensure they’re taking their medication properly. Medication administration is also available as needed.
Furthermore, assisted living also offers transportation to residents with doctor appointments in case they need it. Special services are also offered to residents with diseases affecting their memory.
Nursing home:
As stated above, residents living in nursing homes have immediate, 24/7 access to medical services. Nursing staff will be stationed at nursing homes to ensure that individuals suffering from chronic diseases receive the medical attention they require.
Aside from medication monitoring and administration, rehabilitative services are also offered to residents. These rehabilitative services include occupational, physical, respiratory, and speech therapy.
Provided assistance for personal care/daily activities
Assisted living:
Once again, residents in assisted living have more independence to do things on their own. But of course, residents here can still receive some form of assistance to accomplish their daily tasks (meal preparation, bathing, laundry services, grooming, medication monitoring/administration) if needed. Housekeeping services are also provided to lessen the tasks done by residents, allowing them to partake in other fulfilling tasks in their community.
Nursing home:
Residents living in nursing homes require more assistance to meet their daily needs. Therefore, designated staff members will assist residents in bathing, dressing, or guiding them to the restroom. Staff members will also assist them in administering and monitoring their medication intake. Meals and laundry of the residents are also taken care of by other nursing home staff members.
Living setup
Assisted living:
Residents here either live in solo or shared apartments. These apartments are fully furnished and usually have common areas where residents can gather as they wish. Thanks to that, you can still choose when you’d like to socialize with others.
Moreover, since residents here are given independence to accomplish their tasks, apartments here also have designated kitchenettes where you can prepare your own meals. And other than common living areas, residential housing for assisted living facilities also provides extensive outdoor areas for its residents.
Nursing home:
People living in a nursing home have solo rooms or share a room with other residents. These shared rooms often have adjoining bathrooms. Similar to assisted living facilities, a nursing home also contains common areas where residents can gather to eat meals or engage in various activities together. However, unlike assisted living facilities, areas for outside grounds are limited in nursing homes.
Offered recreational activities
Assisted living:
Assisted living is greatly recommended for elderly people who wish to stay active. After all, many assisted living facilities offer a wide variety of activities that cater to all residents’ varying interests. For instance, some might offer Zumba, yoga, gardening, and even swimming classes.
Besides those, some assisted living facilities may also hold karaoke contests, pool parties, and other enjoyable activities that’ll keep everyone entertained during their stay. Card games, board games, and even bingo parties can be conducted depending on the facility.
Nursing home:
Although nursing homes also offer different recreational activities to keep residents active and healthy, the choices offered are not that extensive. Nursing homes tend to focus on activities related to art, music, reading, and the like. Sometimes, mentally-stimulating games are hosted as well.
If fitness activities are conducted in nursing homes, physical therapists will be present to supervise participants to prevent them from suffering any injuries.
Assisted living vs. Nursing Home: Costs
Now that you know the difference between the two long-term care options, it’s time to know their overall costs in the USA.
Well, it goes without saying that both care facilities are quite pricy. But then again, nursing home costs are a lot more expensive compared to assisted living facility costs. You can expect to shell out around $7400 for a nursing care facility in the US.
On the other hand, costs for assisted living facilities in the US can amount to $4000 or above. The cost can get higher if you decide to avail additional services for yourself or your loved one. For instance, supervised Alzheimer’s care can increase the costs up to $5000 or higher than that.
Factors to Consider When Picking the Best Care Facility
The ideal care facility depends on you or your loved one’s current mobility and health. That said, if you’re still undecided, here are some factors you can consider to pick the ideal care facility for you or your family member:
* The required amount of assistance you require to accomplish daily activities
* The amount of medical attention you need for your condition or illnesses
The ability to prepare or cook your own meals
Once you’ve decided, you can start exploring the available care facilities in your area to find the perfect match for your senior loved one. Lastly, don’t forget to look into a care facility’s available staff, atmosphere, community, security, customized care plans, and the like to ensure that your loved ones will move into a welcoming and safe home.
Conclusion
Overall, the best care facility greatly depends on your loved one’s needs and wants. But then again, no matter what option you choose, having your loved one move into a care facility isn’t going to be easy.
However, as long as you choose a care facility with a warm, welcoming community that provides high-quality care, you can ensure that your loved ones will move to a fantastic place where they can get the care they deserve and be happy.