When it comes time to help a senior loved one get the care they need, you want to make the best possible choice. You may be looking into assisted living facilities and nursing home facilities, wondering how they differ.
This blog will explain each option and the services they provide to help you assess which environment will best support your senior loved one’s health and wellbeing.
What services are provided in assisted living?
Assisted living communities are a good fit for seniors who have the ability to live mostly independent lives, but need assistance with activities of daily living (ADL). For example, your loved one may require some help with things like meals, transportation, medication management, bathing, or getting dressed. In assisted living facilities, staff is available 24/7 to provide ADL services. Full-time registered nurses are also available to answer questions as well as to assess medical concerns if they arise. They can help determine if a resident requires an increased level of care.
In assisted living, seniors usually live in their own apartments, sometimes with their spouse. Daily life is engaging and full of opportunities. Residents can choose to get involved with their community’s activities, spend the day in their own apartment, or come and go as they please (within COVID-19 guidelines).
When trying to determine if assisted living is the right choice for a senior loved one, families can keep an eye on how well the senior manages domestic tasks. In addition, you may want to monitor the status of medical conditions with the help of your loved one’s doctor and watch carefully to see if they are taking their medications as prescribed. When these things begin to pose a challenge, it may be time to consider a move to assisted living.
What services are provided in nursing homes?
Nursing homes, also referred to as long term care facilities, offer 24-hour monitoring and assistance with medical needs due to significant physical and mental health conditions. This care option is often chosen when neither the senior nor their caregiver can fully keep up with the tasks required each day. Limited mobility, serious medical conditions, or dementia may precipitate the move into long term care. In long term care facilities, skilled nurses provide services around the clock and staff checks in on residents often throughout the day and night.
Rehabilitation and/or restorative therapy can be provided in long term care; however, some services may require orders from a doctor. Those caring for their senior loved ones will want to check with their loved one’s physician as well as the long term care facility.
Residents may participate in speech, physical, respiratory, or cognitive therapy. Sometimes they require more than one of these services. However, there are long term care patients who use post acute care services for rehab only and then return home.
Long term care goes by a wide variety of names. You may run across terms like skilled nursing facilities, convalescent homes, and extended care facilities. All provide around-the-clock skilled nursing services.
What happens if my senior loved one’s care needs change?
Your senior loved one’s physical and cognitive support requirements will likely change over time. Marquis’ one-on-one care model helps staff quickly identify when a resident might require more assistance.
We also develop personal care plans for everyone we serve. If a resident requires a different level of care, we provide essential support throughout the transition. Often your senior loved one can move to another facility on the same campus, which makes the change feel less disruptive.
Marquis Senior Living & Health Care Facilities
This is an important time in your loved one’s life. Marquis is here to help families determine the best course of action, like when to transition a loved one into assisted living, or whether long term care is the right choice. Marquis understands the importance of person-centered care and is there to assist every step of the way. Our culture is centered around compassionate care and personalized plans as unique as each of the people we serve.
We offer a wide range of senior living options that meet the needs of your loved one at every stage of their aging journey. Contact us today to get started.
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