Assisted living vs "nursing home" - clarification needed

[mom2boys]

Can anyone help clarify the difference between the two?

 

[mamajoan]

Assisted living can have different meaning but basically
It is when an elderly person lives in an apt.. studio or 1 bedroom in a facility where some meals are provided, it is in a facilty where a number of other elderly people reside, there is sometimes help with bathing, medication, activities of daily living, housekeeping, and transportation. These services are provided btwn min. and moderate levels of assistance.. depends on the facility. It is paid for by the individual. Different facilities have different levels of care.. but in most cases a person residing in a Assisted living facility is pretty independent.

A Skilled Nursing Facility.. SNF.. or Nursing Home is usually where
RN's are on duty 24/7, residents get Max. Assistance with ADL's, bathing, etc, rec'v Meds and treatments from Medical professionals ie, PT, RN's OT , Psyche... Residents usually reside in one, two, or three bed rooms sharing bathroom facilities. Meals are provided along with activities. Payment for these services depends on the level of service and the reason for placement. Insurance/medicare MAY pay for services if the patient is placed in the SNF for Rehab. Again there are different levels of care in SNF's. Ranging from Ambulatory dementia patients to Max care-vent patients.

Does this help?

 

[Krisu]

Nursing homes would offer more skilled care such as 24hr nursing, tube feedings, IVs etc. Assisted livings are supposed to be like being at home with nurses and aides if you require assistance with meds, bathing, treatments. I work in an Assisted Living and each personn has very different needs that are addressed before they are admitted. For instance there are people where I work that I never see, are very independent even have their own cars, others need help with their meds, or bathing. To me it's a really grey area. Some people here are unable to stand or ambulate, in these cases the family is encouraged to have a private duty aide since the ratio of caregivers to residents is much smaller than in nursing homes Most assisted livings do not have 24hr nursing but there is always a nurse on call for the aides to call for any problems. (they are called "Care managers") where I am. Since people are leaving the hospital sooner than they were a few years ago some need the nursing home setting for care that would be hard to get at home. I've also worked in a nursing home so if you have any more questions let me know

 

[Tiggeroo]

My grandmother stayed at a very nice assisted living facility after a stroke. They had requirements to be there. And medicaid did cover it, but they had very few spaces for medicaid patients, required by law. It had levels of care on different floors. She started out in a fairly independent floor. But her health got worst and ended moving first to one that required more care, and one for people with dementia. You could not get into this facility if you needed these floors with more assistance, but you could get in on a lower level of care and get moved up.

 

[Megan's Mom]

Tiggeroo
That place sounds a lot like the place that we have moved the In-laws to this summer. It is a 6 story apartment building and they are guaranteed a spot in both the assisted living and nursing home part. They can for the most part take care of themselves but it does offer transportation and meals and stuff like taht. They can get more services as they become needed. This place is really teh best place in town due to the fact that it has all three facilities in one.

 

[mtemm]

my grandmother is in an assisted living that has a nursing home attached on the other side. She has a one bedroom with a full bath, living/dining room, and galley kitchen. Its very nice! She cooks for herself and also sometimes takes meals in the dining hall. As she's gotten older, she has been eating more and more meals there, but still likes to make some things for herself. Its nice because if something happens, there is someone there to call that can help her. They have so many programs there, too. Lots of outings, plus an in-house day program. She goes to the day program but really doesn't go outside.

I believe she is guaranteed a spot in the nursing home if she needs it someday. This is so different though, and such a blessing.