Along the continuum of senior care, an aging individual often progresses from living independently at home to living in some form of an assisted living facility. As a certified Senior Living Advisor, I know the confusion caused by terminology. I see it in the faces of individuals and families every day. They don’t know what to ask for because they don’t understand the labels. The level of care needed plays a big part. Once you understand services and the labels, it will be easier to navigate all the options. To eliminate the confusion, let’s take a closer look at the four most common types of senior living facilities:
Assisted Living Facility
An assisted living facility provides seniors a home along with medical and/or personal caregiving in a group setting. Assisted living residents often need help in a variety of ways:
- Medications,
- Routine health monitoring, and
- Daily living activities that may include bathing and toileting, personal grooming, dressing and eating
An assisted living facility typically focuses on providing care to seniors. Although they make up the majority of residents, younger adults may live in these facilities. Those would be people whose needs match those that are provided by staff.
Assisted living typically falls in the middle of the senior care facility spectrum between independent living and skilled nursing. Assisted living facilities normally have care giving staff available 24/7. However, that does not necessarily mean medical care is provided 24 hours a day. That kind of care is typically provided by a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
Independent Living Facility
An independent living facility is often part of a senior living community. Although the community might also include assisted living and/or skilled nursing facilities, residents are usually self-sufficient. They are independent seniors who appreciate participating in group activities and services with their peers.
There is one primary reason why many seniors choose to live in an independent living facility within such a community. It makes it possible to easily transition into assisted living and then to a skilled care facility within the same community.
Senior Apartments
First, Senior apartments cater to independent, self-sufficient seniors who want to live in a community of people their own age. That is to say that often there are minimum age restrictions. Although similar to living in an independent living facility, there is typically no assisted living or skilled care facilities in the complex. Therefore, transitioning to those levels of care would require relocation.
Skilled Care or Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled care or skilled nursing facilities provide eldercare residences for seniors who require more comprehensive medical or personal care attention. Consequently, the healthcare in skilled nursing facilities is normally provided by licensed professionals. Skilled nursing facilities were once called nursing homes, although this term is no longer preferred. These facilities typically provide 24/7 nursing and personal care. Residents might be convalescing from recent hospital stays or have chronic illnesses.
The Bottom Line
There is a continuum of care needed as people age. It’s best to understand the different types of senior living facilities to know which is best for your loved one. Or, perhaps, you are choosing a new living arrangement for yourself. So, regardless of where a person is on the continuum of care needed, there are options. Certainly, you can make the best decision by knowing what each option means.
At Senior Living Advisor, we make it easier for you to make good decisions. We want you to understand the types of senior living facilities and choose the one that is best for you and your needs. Most importantly, we are here to help. Contact me today for straight answers that will end the confusion for you.
Lona