When you realize it’s time to bring in help to care for a loved one, you’re faced with many choices to make. And one of the first and foremost decisions is whether to choose assisted living or a nursing home. Some people use these terms interchangeably but that is not the case. Each has different strengths and weaknesses and are a better fit for different situations. So we’ve put together a few key points to take into consideration when choosing which care assistance to use.
Needs
To what extent do you need assistance? This can be a quick way to determine whether to choose assisted living or a nursing home. If your loved one is able to handle daily life moderately well, but finds difficulty remembering to take medications or bath themselves, then assisted living is probably the best choice. It’s like having an assistant to make normal life a little safer and much better. If, however, your loved one needs round the clock care, or is suffering serious degenerative medical conditions, then a nursing home would be a smart fit. Nurses are available all day and all night to handle every aspect of life for anyone in need of it. Decide if you need light or intensive care and you’re one step closer to the right choice.
Pricing
While we hate to admit it, costs do play a major role in choosing the form of life care that we can provide. But the saying “you get what you pay for” doesn’t have to apply here. Both options are strong choices, but they do have a price difference. Because nursing homes entail a living space, food, medical care, activities, and more, it can be quite expensive. Much more expensive than assisted living. But that’s understandable considering it is 24/7 intensive care for a parent or loved ones who can’t take care of themselves. However, if you need a cheaper option, assisted living is still available. And it can be plenty effective in any number of scenarios.
Staff
The people you place your loved one’s care in can be a make or break deal. You want to make sure you have the most qualified staff on your side when it comes to a topic this valuable to you. Because nursing homes often receive government funding, their staff has to go through intense certification or licensing programs. Assisted living staff members don’t always go through the same training or certifications. This does not, however, make them any less qualified to provide care. Find what your state’s laws regarding licensing or certification are and ask prospective assisted living companies if they stick to the same level of qualification.
There are many more points to take into consideration when making such a pivotal decision. But these are a great place to start. If you are having difficulty choosing, never be afraid to ask. We are here to help and want to make sure you are confidant deciding between assisted living or a nursing home. This should be a move toward a better tomorrow, not a stressful breakdown. Trust yourself and you can’t go wrong.
