Should I Choose a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility?

When your loved one starts needing more care than you can safely provide on your own, it may be a good idea to think about assisted living or a nursing home. This is a difficult decision for many people and it is important to choose carefully so that your make sure your loved one gets the help and care they need. If you have already made a decision and suspect that your loved one may be the victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home or assisted living facility, then you should speak to a nursing home abuse lawyer with the Higgins Firm right away. We will listen to your case and help you get the compensation you need for what you have suffered.

Assisted living facilities were created in the 1990s because of disputes and issues about institutionalized living with skilled nurses during this time period. An elderly love one that needs some care but prefers an environment that is more like a home may want to be placed in assisted living over a nursing home. Assisted living often offers apartments or rooms that are more private. An elderly loved one may also be able to bring their own furniture or other items that they own. This choice may offer your loved one the option to be more independent. 

Assisted living usually includes help with basic needs such as taking a shower or bath, help with eating and using the restroom. It also usually includes sharing meals with other residents and getting help with your laundry and other services.  Typically, assisted living is recommended for elderly loved ones that may be younger and still able to get around and for those that are aware of their environment. Finally, even though assisted living offers limited care, people would still be around to help in an emergency. 

 

If the potential resident needs a large amount of help with their day to day needs or has a severe illness or disability, a nursing home may be a good choice for them. Nursing homes provide twenty-four hour care for your loved one with the help of skilled nurses and other staff. Nursing homes may also provide help with making sure your love takes their medicine, has access to therapy programs, gets nutritious food, and offers additional services that may be needed. 

Another important factor to consider is that many nursing homes will take Medicare and Medicaid as a way to pay for the care for your loved one.  It is a good idea to think about this when making your decision because assisted living may be more affordable but nursing homes are more likely to be covered by government programs and insurance because of the type of care that they provide. 

Now that you know the difference between assisted living facilities and nursing homes, you may not know which one to choose. It is recommended that you think about the kind of care your loved one needs and also the cost of providing this care. Then you will be better able to decide which facility may be the right choice for the one you love. If you have already made a choice and placed your loved one in one of these facilities it is a good to visit them often to make sure everything is going on. When you visit, if you believe that your loved one may be being abused or neglected, you need to contact one of our caring and experienced nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Higgins Firm. Our team will review your case and help to determine if you may be entitled to compensation. If so, our team will work hard to make sure you get the amount of compensation you deserve for what you have been through.