“Since the search was for Dad, I let him have a lot of the input as to where he wanted to go. This community was nice. We liked it a lot. The community appeared clean and well maintained. The staff was nice, friendly, and professional.”
Assisted Living Vs. Nursing Home Back
It is never an easy thought; should mom go to an assisted living community or a nursing home? Is Dad going to be okay not being in his home that he so loves? If you are concerned about your loved ones safety, you may need to stop and seriously consider your options. There have been many times that a parent has made their child promise not to put them in a “home”. The guilt weighs on the caregivers. Many people push the decision far aside because of the perceptions that they have of what these facilities truly are. Here are a few points to help you out!
| NURSING HOME | ASSISTED LIVING |
| Round the clock medical attention to resident. | Seniors who wish to receive custodial care in a more home like atmosphere. The modifications needed to keep their actual “home” safe for them is no longer necessary as they are provided in AL (rails, ramps, medical alert systems). |
| Seniors who need a great deal of help with activities of daily living. | Private apartments or rooms that can house the residents’ own furnishing and decorations. |
| Residents who have severe cognitive impairment or debilitating medical problems that require a skilled nursing facility. | Most assisted living residents receive custodial help with a limited number of activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, eating and toileting). |
| Help with medication dispersal, access to physical and occupational therapists, healthy meals and a variety of other amenities. | Aids and staff respect resident privacy whenever possible and foster an atmosphere of independence and autonomy. |
| Shared meals (chef prepared and healthy), laundry service and housekeeping are included. It feels more like a fabulous retirement resort community. | |
| Social events so that the residents can get to know one another and enjoy each other’s company. | |
| Access to physical activity and fitness | |
| Intellectual Stimulation: Many facilities have libraries and offer opportunities for learning from computer classes to book clubs and art classes. |