Are you concerned about a beloved parent or another aging family member? Do you wonder what type of care they’ll need in the near future?

If so, you’re not alone. As of 2014, over 1.7 million Americans lived in nursing homes. A million more live in some type of assisted living community–and that number is expected to triple by 2040.

While both types of facilities care for senior patients, there are some key differences between the two. In this post, we’ll examine assisted living vs nursing home care so you can decide which is best for your loved one.

What to Expect in an Assisted Living Community

Assisted or senior living communities are designed for those who can’t safely live on their own anymore but don’t require 24-hour care.

In general, people who live in assisted living communities are still in fairly good health. They can generally move around, dress, and feed themselves.

But they may need assistance from a nurse for minor medical reasons. They might also need the help of a caregiver to assist with routine tasks like cooking, cleaning, or bathing. Some facilities also offer services and care for memory-impaired patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the main advantages of an assisted living community is that its residents are given a large amount of freedom. Community activities are also popular, ranging from shopping trips and movie nights to fitness classes and karaoke.

The idea of an assisted living community is just that–to make its residents feel that they’re still very much part of an active community.

What to Expect in a Nursing Home

Nursing homes offer the same excellent level of care as assisted living communities. The main difference is that they’re designed for those with more serious health problems that require round-the-clock care.

Nursing homes are staffed with skilled nurses and nurse practitioners who oversee the care of their residents. They prescribe and administer medical treatment, as well as providing physical, occupational, or speech therapies.

Although nursing homes do offer some “community” activities, their primary focus is providing quality medical care for its residents. In many cases, the residents are not physically or cognitively able to participate in many activities.

If your loved one’s health has declined to the point where they need round-the-clock care, a nursing home may be the best choice. If they’re still healthy enough to handle most of their daily care themselves, they may thrive in an assisted living environment.

Assisted Living vs Nursing Home: Which Will You Choose?

Now that you know the differences between assisted living vs nursing home care, the only thing left to do is choose.

Of course, your choice is not an easy one. It’s heartbreaking to watch a beloved family member get older.

But rest assured that whichever path you choose, your loved one is sure to receive the care they need and deserve.

Do you live in the Washington DC area? Are you interested in seeing a beautiful assisted living community for yourself?

Click here to schedule a tour of the Maple Heights Senior Living Community and see everything we have to offer.