What’s the Difference between a Nursing Home and an Assisted Living Facility?
When selecting a nursing home, you will want to get a sense of exactly how your loved one will be treated by the nursing home staff. A crucial part of this research will also involve understanding exactly what kind of care will be provided based on the classification of the facility. Is it a nursing home or an assisted living facility? And what are the main differences between nursing homes and assisted living facilities?
Here are some questions you may want to ask in order to determine whether your elderly loved one would receive more appropriate care in a nursing home or an assisted living facility:
- Can your loved one still perform daily activities? If a senior is still able to perform daily tasks like eating, dressing and bathing, they may be better suited for life in an assisted living facility. Although assisted living facilities still employ caregivers to provide medical treatment and daily assistance to residents, the residents remain somewhat independent.
- Does your loved one require constant medical care? Keep in mind that assisted living facilities usually have fewer nurses on staff than nursing homes. If your elderly loved one is in need of medical treatment and assistance on a regular basis, it may be better for them to living in a nursing home.
- How important is it for your loved one to remain social and interact with others? Although nursing homes do provide opportunities for social interaction among senior residents, the reality is that assisted living facilities offer greater options for social interaction and recreational activities. That’s because assisted living facilities may provide an atmosphere that feels more like “home” for the residents.
- How important is your loved one’s privacy? While nursing homes can feel closer in spirit to hospitals (with nursing home staff constantly monitoring the residents and providing round-the-clock medical attention to ensure that the residents are healthy), assisted living facilities provide residents with a greater sense of privacy. For example, most assisted living facilities offer private living quarters for the residents.
Regardless of whether your elderly loved one lives in a nursing home or an assisted living facility, they need to be properly cared for by the staff and others. If your loved one has suffered an injury or illness as a result of nursing home negligence or nursing home abuse in New Jersey, you should speak with a qualified nursing home abuse attorney immediately. Barry Sugarman is an experienced nursing home negligence lawyer who will make sure that your loved one gets the care they deserve. Contact Mr. Sugarman today to schedule a free consultation.
