Educational Articles
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility vs. Assisted Living Facility
What's the difference? While both settings fall under the categories of "senior living" and "long-term care" and there are similarities when it comes to dining, activities, and assisting with personal cares, there are a few significant differences between nursing homes / skilled nursing facilities and assisted living residences.
- Level of Care: Skilled nursing facilities are able to admit and retain residents with multiple diagnoses requiring daily licensed nurse assessment and supervision. Due to state regulations and the employment of non-licensed caregivers, assisted living facilities are unable to provide this service. In assisted living, a resident's medical condition must be stable without frequent changes in physician orders. Furthermore, assisted living regulations limit the total number of weekly direct care hours provided. Contact us to learn more.
- Nurses and Caregivers: Our skilled nursing facilities have licensed nurses supported by certified nursing assistants (CNA) on-site 24/7. While each of our assisted living facilities employs a licensed nurse, the nurse is on-site part-time to full-time depending on location and is limited in the scope of services provided due to regulations. Our assisted living locations have trained caregivers who are on-site 24/7 to assist with personal cares, medication administration, and more. Contact us to learn more.
- Payer Source: While our skilled nursing facilities' payer sources include Medicare and Medicaid, the primary payer source for assisted living is private pay with some locations accepting family care. During the assessment and admission process, payer sources and coverage details are verified. Learn more about paying for your care.
