What is the Difference Between an Assisted Living Facility and a Nursing Home?

Deciding where an elderly loved one should reside when they are no longer able to live alone can be a confusing process. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities differ in a few distinct ways, and depending on an individual’s capacity and needs, one facility can offer more appropriate care than another. It is also important to carefully research specific residences in order to make sure that they are safe for a loved one. If your loved one already resides in a nursing home or assisted living facility, and you believe that they are being mistreated, the Jacksonville nursing home neglect attorneys at The Lawrence Law Group can help you pursue proper legal action against those responsible for their harm. Our firm assists families in abuse and neglect claims against nursing homes and assisted living facilities, seeking to ensure not only that victims’ rights are asserted but also that this type of harm does not happen in the future.

There are a few differences between assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Firstly, assisted living facilities are often made up of individual living spaces, where residents have private apartments or rooms, decorated and furnished according to their own wishes. Furthermore, assisted living facilities are geared toward a more independent, autonomous resident, and staff and personnel allow for a significant amount of privacy. Assisted living facilities almost always provide shared meals for residents, as well as laundry and some housekeeping services. In terms of help with daily living activities, such as bathing, eating, dressing, or hygiene, assisted living facilities provide more limited assistance than nursing homes. Although aids are always available to residents, there is, on average, only one aid to every eight residents during daytime hours.

In contrast to assisted living facilities, nursing homes, also known as skilled nursing facilities, have constant, 24-hour medical services available to residents. Often, these residents will need constant supervision and a high degree of assistance with daily activities, since some may suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other debilitating conditions. The majority of nursing homes nationwide are also registered to accept residents receiving Medicare or Medicaid benefits, making care more accessible and affordable for individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford these services without governmental program support. Skilled nursing homes also differ from assisted living facilities in that they are often more expensive, since around-the-clock medical care requires skilled aids and other costs associated with operations.

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes both have benefits and disadvantages, so determining which type of residence is appropriate for your loved one is mostly a question of their individual needs. When making this decision, it is important to do as much research as you can, such as making visits to the property and checking resources for reviews about resident care or any history of litigation involving a facility or a staff member.

Many questions may arise when determining whether a nursing home or assisted living facility is the appropriate type of residence for your loved one, as well as determining the specific location. Unfortunately, concerns about how they are being treated still may develop once a resident is in a facility’s care, no matter how carefully a family approaches the process at the outset. If you suspect that a loved one is being subjected to neglect or abuse, the Jacksonville lawyers at The Lawrence Law Group can assist you in making sure that appropriate legal action is taken to protect them. Our firm represents people throughout Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Baker, Brevard, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, Suwannee, Hamilton, Union, Columbia, Jefferson, Volusia, and Alachua Counties. You can contact us online or at (904) 632-0077 to speak with an attorney today regarding your legal rights and options.