As we age, our bodies grow older and get weaker, and are unable to support us. Therefore, we need some help in getting through our days. Depending on your health status, you may need long-term care or short-term care. Whether you are looking for additional aid for yourself or your elderly parents, choosing between skilled nursing and assisted living can be confusing. Collecting information from genuine sources can help you make the most beneficial choice suiting your requirements.
Let us see some of the significant differences between skilled nursing and assisted living-
- Level of Support: The primary difference between skilled nursing and assisted living is the level, type, and duration of support required by the individual. Out of all the reasons, this one is most critical for you to make a choice. Skilled nursing provides medical care like regular therapy, IV medication, ventilator, etc. Conversely, assisted living provides help with daily activities, including bathing and cooking, mental health improvement, medication management, social support, and financial management.
- Living Arrangement: Skilled nursing aims to provide rehabilitation to patients, whereas assisted living aims at helping the individual with their routine activities. Skilled nursing is conducted in medical settings such as rehabilitation centers and traditional nursing homes. However, today, most nursing homes have become more residential-inclined to make the patients feel more comfortable. In contrast, assisted living can occur at your residence or their centers. They have a domestic atmosphere and provide individuals with more freedom. However, today’s skilled nursing homes and assisted living services allow the patients to socialize and participate in activities such as games, dinner nights, and occasional parties.
- Independence Required: Skilled nursing primarily helps individuals post-hospitalization or with sudden health decline. The skilled nursing staff takes care of the patient round-the-clock. Constant monitoring reduces the independence of the person. However, it is also a necessity. In contrast, assisted living is confined chiefly to helping with daily chores like cooking. In assisted living, there is much more freedom as individuals can go to the assisted living homes as and when they want.
- Cost: Skilled nursing involves round-the-clock advanced medical care techniques and therefore is more expensive. However, skilled nursing is essentially not required for the long term. Fortunately, they are covered by Medicare and Medicaid. On the other hand, assisted living is a little cheaper. However, when it comes to getting the proper care, cost should not be the primary reason.
- Insurance Coverage: Skilled nursing residences are mostly included in Medicare and Medicaid programs. In contrast, most insurance policies, Medicaid, and Medicare programs do not cover assisted living. The resident needs to pay for the fees at assisted living homes. However, some states provide long-term Medicaid programs that cover some part of assisted living care.
About Cornerstone at the Ranch
Cornerstone at the Ranch is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, providing physical, occupational, and speech therapy, 24-hour skilled nursing, dietary services, and social services. Our nurses and team’s quality and loving care is our biggest strength and the reason behind the quick recovery of our residents.
You can call us at (337) 981-5335 or fill our contact form to schedule a tour of our center.