It can be difficult to decide where an aging loved one should live. Choosing whether an assisted living facility or a skilled nursing home is the better option can be hard, but you’re not alone. A lot of people are facing the same struggle. As you make your decision, here are some things to keep in mind.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a residential setting where seniors can receive care including grooming and meals. Assisted living can offer socialization options and other support, but this arrangement doesn’t provide medical care. It’s up to the seniors to monitor their medical needs and care on their own.
Who Should Live in an Assisted Living Facility?
Assisted living settings are ideal for seniors who are still very active and can manage most things independently. Unlike a skilled nursing home, an assisted living facility doesn’t have any monitoring system in place. This arrangement is ideal for seniors who want to remain mostly independent and have minimal health concerns. Typically, seniors with dementia or serious physical ailments are not a good fit for assisted living.
What is a Skilled Nursing Home?
A skilled nursing home provides a lot more hands-on support for seniors, including medical support. These facilities provide around-the-clock care for individuals who can’t take care of themselves independently. What qualifies a nursing home as skilled is the presence of trained registered nurses working under a doctor’s supervision.
Who Should Live in a Skilled Nursing Home?
Any senior who can no longer live on their own because of dementia or other medical conditions can benefit from receiving care at a skilled nursing home. This type of facility may be the right choice for a loved one if other options like assisted living have not worked well for them in the past.
Aging is a natural part of life. Statista predicts that by 2050, over one-fifth of the population will be 65 or older, compared to about 15% of the population today. Both now and in the future, many seniors will be in need of extra care. Assisted living and skilled nursing homes provide different benefits, so it’s important to think about a person’s individual needs to determine which type of facility is right for them. As you decide where your loved one should live, consider the assisted living and memory care facilities at Via Elegante.
