There comes a point in everyone's life, when you or a loved one realizes the repercussions of getting older and that a current living situation may not be the most practical. Whether you need assistance with everyday activities, or you just find yourself lonely and longing for companionship from people of your own age group, it may be time for a move.
As simple as it seems, these decisions can be very overwhelming to the individual and their families. There are many questions that need answering before deciding which housing situation will suit an individual best. What kind of home do I choose? A retirement community? A 55+ neighborhood? What if I need minimal assistance such as grocery shopping but I still consider myself active? What if my spouse needs more assistance than myself, is there a place that has both full time assistance that is also considered active living? These are just a few questions among a long list that families have to consider to ensure the most suited match for your needs. Here are some things to keep in mind.
The difference between a nursing home and an assistant living home
Commonly mistaken for one-other, nursing homes and assistant living homes are very different. Assistant living homes commonly provide an array of services available, such as, planned meals, housekeeping, transportation, wellness programs, and planned activities for social opportunities with other residents. Assistant living also provides help for those who require assistance with everyday living needs such as bathing, dressing, eating and so on. People who pick assistant living require very little to no medical care, however, often times assistant living facilities have special wings that deal specifically with Alzheimer's and dementia. Another thing to keep in mind is assistant living homes do not take Medicaid and are private pay only.
Nursing homes are ideal for residents that require 24-hour care from certified nurses. Often times these patients are bed bound, or have injury's that need regular attention. Unlike assistant living, nursing homes generally accept Medicaid as well as private pay, however Medicaid requires, often times, a lengthy waiting list before accepted into the pay plan.
Independent living and retirement communities
Retirement communities and 55+ neighborhoods can all be categorized under Independent living. Independent living is as it sounds, they provide communities that offer anywhere from apartments to free standing houses that are bought or rented. Independent living is a great option for those who require little to no assistance, however many places do provide things like cleaning services for an extra fee.
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