Assisted Living Vs. Personal Care Home

In the past, seniors who needed care, the disabled or people with mental handicaps had to go to a nursing home when they could not take care of themselves. That changed in the 1990s, when assisted living residences started gaining popularity as an alternative to the typical nursing home. Now, there are all sorts of assisted living and personal care homes to choose from when deciding which place would best suit your loved one. However, it can still be confusing unless you understand what assisted living and personal care homes can offer.

• Grandpa might need assistance.

What is the Difference?

• There is not much difference between an assisted living facility (ALF) and a personal care home. In several states and communities, assisted living is the general term for any facility that is not a nursing home. You can find assisted living facilities under a number of names: personal care homes, residential care homes, residential care, adult foster homes, retirement communities, senior communities or community-based care facilities.

Size of Facilities

• There are many different sizes of facilities. They can range from small facilities, with four to five people, up to a capacity of several hundred seniors. Many of the newer models of assisted living facilities have big, spacious apartments, and most residents have their own apartment, often with a kitchenette.

Types of Services Provided

• Assisted living facilities are not nursing homes. Residents can and often do maintain a high level of independence while living in an ALF. However, help is there when needed, and some of the services provided are bathing/dressing assistance, walking and transferring, medication administration, arranging doctor's appointments, toileting needs, personal hygiene, laundry services, and shopping. In addition, these facilities have social and recreational activity programs designed to keep residents active.

Who Needs One?

• Some residents only need help with a few of their daily living activities, such as dressing assistance or help into or out of bed. Others need more care, and sometimes you might not be able to provide that care for your loved one at home. Often, factors such as your loved one being at risk of falling or having Alzheimer's disease necessitates the need for a facility that can provide 24-hour supervision and care.

Monitoring of Facilities

• Each state oversees and licenses all assisted living facilities. These agencies are the ones who write the regulations for facilities to follow, and surveyors inspect them every one to two years to make sure each facility complies with the state's laws and regulations.