How Do Nursing Homes Differ from Assisted Living
By Barry Zimmer on January 30th, 2018 in Assisted Living facilities
Nursing home lawyers can provide assistance in making an advanced plan to get care you require as you get older or if you experience illnesses or injuries that make you unable to care for yourself any longer. As you experience age-related infirmities or the affects of illness, there is a substantial chance you will some day require care in an institutional care environment. In fact, as Wall Street Journal explains, more than 70 percent of people who reach the age of 65 will require nursing home care at some point in the future. You’ll need to make sure you are prepared to move to the right environment — and to pay for the care you require — if you become one of the many older people who cannot live on your own any longer.
Zimmer Law Firm can help you to understand your options for nursing home care or other types of care. In particular, you should consider the differences between nursing homes and assisted living facilities so you can make a fully informed choice regarding which environment is right for you.
If you want help in understanding the different options for senior living when you cannot live alone any longer, you can give us a call at any time to talk with nursing home lawyers at our firm.
Assisted Living vs. Nursing Homes
Assisted living and nursing homes both provide an option for seniors who can no longer live independently but as the New York Times explains, there are important differences.
Assisted living facilities generally provide a more home-like environment while nursing homes have a more institutional or hospital-like feel. Assisted living facilities may involve seniors living more independently in their own rooms or their own apartments, while nursing homes generally provide semi-private or private rooms with much less privacy and autonomy than assisted living facilities offer.
While an assisted living facility can feel more like living independently for seniors, this independence makes assisted living facilities unsuitable for many seniors who require more hands-on help. While an assisted living facility may offer housekeeping services, meals, activities, and some help getting medical care, assisted living facilities typically do not provide the same level of supportive services that a nursing home does. For example, if a senior is incontinent or needs supervision because of dementia, a nursing home would be the appropriate environment because an assisted living facility would not provide as much support.
The New York Times also indicates that nursing homes are more heavily regulated than assisted living facilities. Further, while Medicaid will cover the costs of nursing home care for eligible seniors who can qualify for means-tested benefits, assisted living facilities are often not covered by Medicaid or any other kind of insurance policy.
Some facilities have an assisted living section and a nursing home care section for seniors who are attracted to the idea of assisted living but who may need nursing home care in the future. If you think this could be an option, you should make sure to find out what the rules are for when and how different kinds of care can be paid for. However, you should be aware that many facilities promise they can provide more care than they do. As the New York Times states: ‘However suitable assisted living may be when a resident moves in, the average stay is a little over two years, and the most common reason for moving out is needing more care than it can provide.”
Getting Help from Nursing Home Lawyers
Nursing home lawyers at Zimmer Law Firm can provide assistance with the process of making a plan to get nursing home care or to get care in an assisted living community. We can also provide guidance on reviewing nursing home facilities and assisted living facilities to find the right care environment for your particular circumstances.
Because the costs of care can be expensive and are not covered by Medicare or by most private insurance, we also provide assistance with the creation of a Medicaid plan so you can protect assets while getting Medicaid to cover the costs of your care. To find out more about how our legal team can help you, join us for a free seminar. If you are ready to get personalized assistance with your nursing home plan, give us a call at 513.721.1513 today.