Assisted living communities provide seniors the care and comfort they need to live an active life. These facilities often include nutritious meals and a range of social activities.
Skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes, offer constant medical care day and night. Residents receive services like tube feeding and a nurse available for questions.
Cost
Assisted living communities are usually less expensive than nursing homes. They focus on assisting with non-medical tasks that make life easier for seniors, like cooking meals, bathing, and dressing. Many facilities have partnerships with medical providers who visit the residents.
In contrast, nursing homes provide more extensive medical care and supervision. They may have onsite physical therapists and a nurse available to administer medication and monitor health. Nursing homes are ideal for people who need assistance due to health problems or mobility issues and cannot live independently.
Both facilities can be costly, but families can find ways to help pay for them. Some senior-living options offer long-term care insurance, while others accept private funds and retirement savings.
Many veterans and seniors can receive some or all of their care costs through government assistance programs. In addition, converting an existing life insurance policy into a long-term benefit can significantly reduce costs.
Care Level
In quality assisted living in Saint Petersburg, Florida, staff members know how much assistance each resident needs. They also work together to provide a variety of different levels of care. This helps ensure residents get the care they need without overstepping boundaries.
Lower levels of care (level 1) may include help with bathing or showering, grooming, and medication management. Some of these facilities offer supervised exercise sessions, which can improve strength and mobility and prevent falls.
Higher levels of care (levels 2-3) include more comprehensive care. These individuals often show signs of memory loss or other health complications and need assistance with multiple aspects of their daily lives.
Their care is based on a physician’s ordered and supervised plan of care, with frequent assessments. Many of these facilities have kitchenettes or dining rooms and provide meals for their residents. Sometimes, these meals can be delivered to the resident’s room.
Physical Layout
Unlike nursing homes resembling medical facilities, assisted living communities often resemble residential buildings. Individual apartments resemble dormitory rooms with semiprivate bedrooms and shared bathrooms, and there are common areas for socializing.
Socialization
Loneliness is a significant issue for many elderly adults. Consistent socialization is the best way to overcome it, and assisted living facilities offer a variety of opportunities for seniors to engage with their peers.
They provide regular meals, housekeeping, and transportation services to decrease the burden of daily chores on aging individuals. Additionally, they typically have 24-hour staff, so a senior will always feel help is within reach when needed.
Moreover, they offer many different events, clubs, and groups encouraging participation. Residents can participate in gardening, art, and book clubs to learn new skills and connect with people who share their interests.
They also have access to doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to ensure their needs are met and treated promptly. Lastly, they are reevaluated on a routine basis to make sure their service plan is up-to-date. This provides a high level of confidence that they are receiving the best care possible.