Varying Levels of Care at Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes

The CEO of a California-based eldercare company, Jacob Graff handles the development, acquisition, and management of different health care facilities for senior citizens. Facilities that Jacob Graff focuses on include assisted living and skilled nursing care facilities.

Skilled nursing and assisted living facilities may seem like the same thing, but there are actually several differences between the two. These differences primarily relate to the levels of care available at each place.

Of the two, assisted living facilities provide more basic care to older adults who cannot safely live at home, but do not require constant care. Residents at these communities largely live independently and receive assistance with daily activities, such as grooming, bathing, and medication management. In addition to this, assisted living facility residents are exposed to a vibrant social community of life enrichment activities and different hobbies.

Meanwhile, skilled nursing care facilities, or nursing homes, are considered a medical setting rather than a residential one. They provide 24/7 nursing assistance to residents who either have declining health or were recently released from the hospital. Often, these nursing services are accompanied by speech, physical, or occupational therapy services, depending on the resident’s need. Nursing homes also help residents with housekeeping, laundry, and other aspects of daily life.