What’s the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?

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Many people use the terms “assisted living” and “nursing home” interchangeably. However, they are not the same thing.  The primary difference is the level of care and comfort. Each Baruch community provides assisted living to its residents.

Nursing homes (or skilled nursing facilities) are more “hospital-like”. They are for those in need of 24-hour skilled nursing care. Patients generally have less independence, and the rooms are often less private. Though they may offer some onsite recreational activities, the primary purpose of nursing homes is to provide acute medical care.

Assisted Living is community-based care in a homelike setting. It is for those who do not need 24-hour nursing care but need assistance with activities of daily living. Services include meals, housekeeping and laundry, medication administration, and personal care. Assisted living also offers organized recreational and social activities, including outings. Residents usually have their own rooms, which they may furnish and decorate to make it their own.

Although not all assisted living homes offer in-house medical care, they coordinate with outside services such as home health, physical therapy, and hospice. In most cases, a resident can receive the care they need in an assisted living home through end-of-life with no need to transfer to a skilled nursing facility. Along with continuous care, assisted living has all the comforts of home.

Baruch Senior Ministries’ assisted living homes are each licensed by the state of Michigan as an Adult Foster Care (AFC) home or Home for the Aged (HFA). We give 24-hour care at an all-inclusive rate (room, board, and care). As a faith-based nonprofit, Baruch is committed to providing the best care at an affordable cost so your loved one can live out the rest of their days in a compassionate community that feels like home.