Choosing a Supportive Living Environment: Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing
Assisted living and skilled nursing provide a variety of services and amenities for individuals seeking supportive care. If you’re looking for a community for yourself or a family member, it’s important to understand the differences so you can choose the environment that best matches your needs.
Generally speaking, assisted living communities are the best options for individuals who need assistance with daily activities such as medication management. Skilled nursing communities are equipped to meet the needs of individuals who require full-time monitoring and medical care.
We’ve compiled information about both types of communities to assist you in making the best decision for yourself or your family member.
Assisted Living: Help with Personal Care
Assisted living communities offer residential options for individuals who need some support and supervision but do not require continual nursing care. Residents typically live in their own apartments with access to a variety of services, amenities, dining choices and activities.
Services Make Life Easier
In an assisted living community, you’ll find a comprehensive selection of services to help ease the burdens of daily life. You’ll no longer need to worry about typical home chores, as your community will provide housekeeping, maintenance, landscaping, laundry services and more. You can focus on spending time with others, participating in the activities you love, and simply enjoying life.
You’ll also have access to numerous personal care services to provide a customized level of assistance on a daily basis. Trained staff members are available to help with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and managing medications. Some assisted living communities also offer specialized memory care services.
You won’t have to worry about keeping up your driver’s license or maintaining a vehicle, since transportation is provided to your doctor’s appointments, shopping and scheduled activities. However, assisted living residents are as independent as they want to be and are able to be, and some do continue to drive.
Nutritious meals and snacks are provided in assisted living, and, depending on the community, residents may prepare meals in their residences if they wish.
Amenities and Activities Add the Fun Factor
Assisted living communities provide necessary services, but they also offer a healthy dose of pampering, socialization and fun.
You’ll want to choose a community with attractive amenities like a library, social parlors, and a movie room so you have plenty of entertainment options available. In addition, a beautiful, wooded campus can provide many hours of enjoyment with nature walks on walking trails or simply watching wildlife.
A variety of planned activities will be available to provide opportunities for socialization, learning, engagement and fun. You can learn a language or receive guidance in making arts and crafts, participate in an exercise class, enjoy a musical performance, join in games, and more.
In an assisted living community, you can spend your time as you wish — participating in activities you love — as you benefit from supportive services that make life more manageable.
Skilled Nursing: A High Level of Supportive Care
Individuals who move into skilled nursing communities — sometimes referred to as nursing homes — often have medical conditions that require full-time observation and care. Residents are under medical supervision by licensed or registered nurses, certified nursing assistants and other professionals.
Nutritious meals and snacks are provided along with a variety of supportive services, including housekeeping, laundry, security and transportation.
When Is Skilled Nursing Appropriate?
Skilled nursing care often is the best choice for people who have suffered wounds that have not healed, need to recover from a fracture or other injury, are on bed rest for an illness, or require a respirator. Residents of skilled nursing may have multiple, chronic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer.
Many nursing home residents need assistance with mobility, along with completing daily activities like eating, bathing, dressing and using the restroom. Residents also may have severe memory or cognitive challenges, and they may take psychiatric medications.
Amenities to Help Residents Thrive
Despite their need for a high level of medically oriented care, residents in skilled nursing can continue to enjoy life and thrive thanks to an array of stimulating activities and opportunities for companionship.
Skilled nursing team members focus on providing entertainment and learning opportunities to help residents keep their minds sharp and their bodies fit and strong. Lectures, performances, movies and visits by outside groups can make each day special and memorable.
Personalized Services and Senior Care in Staten Island
Supportive living environments should meet the needs of the individual and provide the best possible foundation for pursuit of an exceptional lifestyle. The Brielle offers a tiered wellness system with assisted living and memory care services based on personalized care needs. To learn more about our Staten Island retirement community’s unique approach to aging, please contact us today.