What Sets Assisted Living Apart From Nursing Homes

According to KFF, there were roughly 17,448 nursing home residents in Wisconsin as of 2023. These are senior citizens who require more care than others and are often living without the aid of family members. Contrary to popular belief, nursing homes aren't the only option for an aging loved one.

However, you may wonder whether or not a nursing home is the right choice. After all, you can also find communities advertised as assisted or independent living.

Here's what you should know about assisted living vs nursing home differences and why you might want one over the other.

Level of Medical Care

The first main difference is in the type of medical care a resident can expect.

Assisted living communities are one of the lowest levels that a senior can live in, aside from an independent living community. With assisted living, residents can expect help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. They may also get assistance with cleaning their home and cooking some meals.

Residents are given as much or as little care as they need. Intensive medical care is not provided by the community.

In contrast, nursing homes offer much more advanced medical care. Residents who live in them often require round-the-clock nursing care, such as administered medications, wound care, and physical therapy.

Staff Qualifications

As would be expected from the varying levels of medical care, assisted living communities and nursing homes require different qualifications for their staff.

At most, an assisted living community will require personal care aides and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The standard staff a resident will encounter won't be able to administer or prescribe medications. They may help with medication management, though.

A nursing home requires more skilled staff such as registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). That makes the home much more like a long-term hospital setting.

You can also expect there to be at least one medical director or various physicians on-site to deal with emergencies.

Living Environment

If you're looking into the different elder care choices, you may notice the living environments advertised.

When most people think of nursing homes, they imagine a more clinical space. While residents may have private rooms, everything around them resembles a hospital setting. That way, they can receive the medical care they require, and staff can maintain a cleaner area for them.

Meanwhile, assisted living communities are more home-like and less institutional. Residents stay in private or semi-private apartments that are all within close distance of communal areas. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and promotes independence.

A bad assisted living community has limited activities and social engagement opportunities. Both communal and private areas should be kept tidy and clean.

Cost

You can expect the cost of long-term care to go up with the amount of skilled staff required.

Assisted living communities do not include extensive medical services. Staff do not generally have medical training, so they don't cost as much to hire. What this means is that assisted living is one of the least expensive options for your senior loved one.

However, a nursing home is much more costly. Residents get round-the-clock medical care every day. They are billed for extensive healthcare services, room and board, and whatever therapies they receive.

Luckily, nursing home care is considered a medical expense. Insurances like Medicare and Medicaid can help residents afford it.

Independence and Available Activities

How much a resident is allowed to do on their own will depend on their own capabilities and the senior living options of their community.

Assisted living aims to provide as much independence as a resident can handle. That means they can go to exercise classes and attend outings with limited supervision.

Nursing homes do have activities and social programs for their residents. The main difference is that these residents often have more severe medical conditions that require strict supervision. Activities are much more structured and tailored to each resident's capabilities.

Length of Stay

In most cases, assisted living is meant to serve as a form of long-term residency. Seniors move into these communities for as long as they want to. Some communities do offer respite care services, though.

A nursing home is also for long-term stays. These homes do provide short-term rehabilitation services for people recovering from surgeries and illnesses, though.

Both can serve as temporary options before transitioning to other types of residential homes.

Regulations and Compliance

These communities have different codes and regulations to follow, as a nursing home involves medical care and specialized staff.

Assisted living communities are regulated at the state level. Each state has its own health and safety standards. Oversight is less stringent than with nursing homes.

Nursing home regulations come from both the federal and state levels. Standards are set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There are state agencies that regulate nursing homes and perform regular inspections.

Family Involvement

One of the best-assisted living benefits is that residents can treat their apartments like any normal home. They can invite family over at any time, and there is no curfew. However, there may be restrictions for public areas such as swimming pools and dining halls.

Nursing home hours are much more restricted. They often lock doors at night for extra safety and to keep residents from wandering off. Depending on the individual's medical conditions, they may require supervised movement.

With that said, family involvement can help a lot when transitioning a loved one to a senior living assisted community. Visiting hours may be more restricted but they can still come by every day during certain hours.

Know Assisted Living vs Nursing Home Differences

Knowing assisted living vs nursing home differences can greatly affect shopping around for your loved one's new residence. Not only are nursing homes more expensive, but they're meant more for senior citizens who require much more medical assistance.

Lakehouse Chippewa Falls provides the best of both worlds. Our pet-friendly community has a full-time registered nurse available 24 hours a day for clinical oversight and care coordination. Reach out with any questions about our staff and floor plans.