The Difference Between A Nursing Home And Assisted Living Facility

A lot of people are getting confused with nursing home and assisted living facility. They are actually very different establishments but they also have similarities as well as differences. For one, both are very in demand right now. Many elderly people are seeking residences in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. This is because they are sure that they will be properly taken care of in either facility. Let us now take a look at the main differences between these two facilities.

Care Options
This is actually one of the most important differences between nursing home and assisted living facility. In a nursing home, patients are under constant medical supervision. People who opt to be in this type of facility are often very sick and in need of regular medical assistance. Residents in these facilities are often incapable of caring for themselves. They are not anymore able to leave the facility on their own because of physical and or mental incapability. Elderly patients cannot anymore carry out normal daily and routine personal activities such as bathing, eating and the like.

On the other hand, patients or residents in assisted living facilities also require a certain degree of medical attention. Nevertheless, they are able to properly take care of themselves. They can still perform some personal daily tasks such as bathing, cooking and eating. Their physical and mental health is still manageable compared to patients or residents in nursing facilities.

Facilities Available
When it comes to facilities, nursing homes and assisted living practically have the same types of available services except for some differences with regards to patient's or residence's freedom. Nursing home facilities are your typical average facility with cafeteria, room sharing (depending on the condition of the residents) nurses and nurses aides, common activity hall and many others that you may already be familiar with. Assisted living on the other hand can range from an entire house turned into a bed and breakfast type of facility. I can also appear like a small hotel or apartelle (apartment hotel) with professional medical assistance from time to time or as may be required by the patient. These facilities can vary from state to state depending on the law requirement of that state.

Freedom
You can already conclude that when it comes to this aspect, residents or patients in assisted living facilities have more freedom to roam around and do their own things than nursing home patients. This is because the physical and mental health conditions of residents in assisted living facilities are healthier. They can drive themselves around. Some are even employed outside. They just opt to live in this type of facility for convenience and safety as well.

Privacy
Just Like with the freedom aspect you can also easily understand that there is definitely more privacy in an assisted living facility. The rooms are more spacious and are more personalized. The former are actually living very independently compared with the latter. They are designed to give comfort, freedom, independence while being monitored health wise. While nursing homes are the complete opposite of what was mentioned about assisted living facilities.

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are readily accessible nationwide. There are already so many facilities to choose from. All you have to do is choose that one that is best suited for you. If you are a relative of somebody who needs to be admitted in a nursing home then make sure you assess and check out available services to ensure your loved one will be properly cared for.