Assisted Living/Supportive Living/Nursing Home

Regardless of whether you are responsible for making the decisions on how to care for a parent/spouse or choosing your own health care future, having the right information is crucial to choosing the best path.  There are many options available and it is important to find one that fits the needs of the person or persons involved.  Unfortunately, life isn't always convenient, and these decisions may have to be made in a short period of time and under a great deal of stress.  Most people don't sit down and say "at age 70, I'm moving into a retirement community"  or  "When I become forgetful, I'm admitting myself to a nursing home".  There may be a general plan agreed on by family members, but as people get older, their needs change, thus their level of care changes. There are several options available for seniors requiring some form of care, beyond what is capable of spouses or children.  Knowing what community is right for you or your family member can be confusing. We'll concentrate on three similar options and their differences.

Assisted Living:  An assisted living community is for the senior who may only need help managing day to day activities. They have no need for constant medical care and, for the most part, are independent. Help in managing their medications, cooking meals, bathing and laundry are several of the most common needs met for a resident at an assisted living residence.  An emphasis is placed on giving the resident the independence he/she wants to live their lives according to their schedules and interests. Many consider assisted living facilities as a bridge between fully independent living (such as a retirement community) and a nursing home.  Personalized assistance is given to each resident, based on their level of need.  One might need medication management and help with bathing, while another resident may need help cooking meals and getting dressed.  Each persons needs are assessed and administered.  Residents at the beginning stages of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, are usually better suited for living in an assisted living community.  With some daily assistance and provided structure, they are more capable of living independently.

Supportive Living:  Most senior health care communities are guided by individual state criteria and are regulated by state laws and oversight committees.  Some states, including Illinois, have what is know as supportive living residences. These are communities that provide similar needs as an assisted living location would, but offer financial assistance through state aid to those with moderate income. Although one's assets and income determine the fees paid for medical and personal services, a person with a higher income may also live in this residence and not worry about relocating if their private funds should ever run out. This design was formed to reduce the need for those who are only in need of minimal assistance to have to go to a nursing home strictly due to financial limitations.

Nursing Homes:  By far, the most common and recognized form of senior health care is the nursing home. Before the development of assisted living residences in the 1990s, nursing homes were the "catch all" for seniors who needed any kind of care, whether they were becoming forgetful, had trouble walking or needed constant medical care, the nursing home was the most viable option.  With individual needs being met by the development of more specialized options, the nursing home is best suited for seniors who need 24 hour care.  On premise medical staff are able to provide the individual care a patient may need.  Many nursing homes are becoming specialized in the medical treatment they provide, such as advanced Alzheimer's, diabetes's, wound care and so on.

Having the facts and knowing what's best for the individual, will help anyone who has to make a decision for the health care of a senior family member or one's self.

Have any of you been confused by these differences or do you have additional questions or comments? We welcome your participation on this topic.