Upon entering their golden years, people may find that everyday living has become more difficult than it used to be. In such a situation, there are various options available to help elderly individuals continue to lead safe, healthy lives.

Seniors who need only minimal assistance often find themselves remaining at home while getting senior home care from either a loved one or a professional caregiver. This can be done on a part-time basis or full time depending on their specific needs. If continuing to live at home is not a suitable option, then elderly individuals may end up moving into an assisted living facility or a long-term care facility.

With the amount of care options available for seniors, you may be left wondering what kind of care is best for your elderly loved one. If your senior relative will be moving into a facility for seniors, then you may wonder what the difference is between long-term care and assisted living and which one is best suited for them.

The following information provides more insight on long-term care, assisted living, the difference between the two forms of care, and how you can figure out which one is best suited for you or your elderly loved ones.

What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is care that caters to an individual’s needs for both everyday help and medical assistance. Furthermore, this form of care is what can be found at nursing homes, also known as long-term care facilities.

Residents at a nursing home or long-term care facility receive standard custodial care, which includes help with bathing, toileting, and other activities of daily living (ADLs). Beyond that, seniors receive medical assistance and, if necessary, 24-hour care.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living refers to care that allows an individual to safely go about their everyday lives while maintaining some independence. Seniors at an assisted living facility will receive assistance with various ADLs. Unlike long-term care, there is no medical help provided, so elderly individuals will get help with safe bathroom use, transferring, grooming, dressing, and more personal care tasks.

How are Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Different?

The primary difference between long-term care and assisted living is the level of care provided.

In long-term care, there is a greater emphasis on health care, so recipients get medical assistance in addition to help with personal care activities. Because of this, the environment of a long-term facility more closely resembles a hospital or medical facility — albeit not in a strict sense. While an effort is made to create a homey environment, rooms often feature hospital beds and medical equipment to allow for effective medical care.  Beyond individual rooms, the assisted living facility often has communal areas, dining rooms, and other spaces that help create a community-like atmosphere.

Within assisted living facilities, the focus is on providing a safe, healthy living environment for seniors where they have custodial care when needed. Because of this, the facility itself often resembles a traditional home, such as an apartment.

Which Form of Care is Better Suited for My Elderly Loved One?

To figure out whether long-term care or assisted living is better for you or your elderly relative, primary care needs must be considered.

Assisted living is better suited for seniors who need partial care, and long-term care is better suited for elderly individuals who need more intensive personal and medical care. This is because assisted living facilities provide some level of necessary everyday help to seniors who have a higher function of living.

For example, an elderly individual may have some mobility issues, struggling to get up and out of bed. At an assisting living facility, the senior will receive the transfer help they need. Long-term care would be unnecessary, because they are not completely dependent and do not have a medical condition that requires more constant care.

Meanwhile, long-term care includes assistance with daily living as well as medical help. This makes long-term care a better fit for elderly individuals whose health conditions not only require daily help, but regular medical attention as well.

Senior Home Care from Assisting Hands

 If you have an elderly loved one who does not have a serious medical condition but has reached a point in life where it would be beneficial to have some everyday help with personal care tasks and other daily activities, then assisted living is a good choice.

However, seniors are increasingly deciding to age within the comfort of their own homes, finding they would prefer to keep their residence. In such a case, moving into an assisted living facility would be something they would be against. But this does not mean elderly individuals cannot still receive the help they need.

Assisting Hands Home Care provides elderly home care services to make sure seniors can live at home in a safe manner. Within our senior home care services, a professional caregiver will be assigned to help your loved one, coming to their home to provide care as needed. We will help with personal care, bathing and showering, and other activities of daily living. Additionally, we can provide assistance with meal preparation and other instrumental activities of daily living.

With help from our elderly home care services, your senior loved one can receive quality care right at home.