When your parents, or at least one of them, reach the point where outside help is needed, will you know what to do? There are many options for senior care and assisted living, and nursing care are two of those. When you find yourself choosing between them, consider this: The amount of help they need, and the surroundings in which they’d prefer to receive it.
So, let us look at the difference between assisted living and skilled nursing care, and which will suit your senior.
Skilled Nursing Care
There are few notable dissimilarities. The main difference is that skilled nursing care includes 24-hour care. It is attention provided by high-skilled medical professionals. They are nurses by occupation and have all necessary licenses and certificates. Skilled nursing can be introduced after illness, injury, or as a mean of rehabilitation.
Also, patients with a chronic medical condition can benefit from specialized nursing. Regardless of the status of your senior, skilled nursing includes services such as physical therapy, injections, monitoring of vital signs, wound care, and intravenous therapy.
Assisted Living
Assisted living, on the other hand, includes a wide range of services. It is worth noting that this branch of home health care is the fastest-growing long-term care option for elderly. The environments with assisted living are perfect for older adults who are competent of living semi-independently. The services that assisted living facilities offer include dressing, bathing, food preparation, medication management, housekeeping, and transportation.
Pros and Cons?
Assisted living offers a great deal, but it also includes the option where your elderly needs to do some things on their own. Skilled nursing is an option that exercises all-day availability for tasks such as bathing, dressing, etc. So, in the end, it’s all about time management. If your senior can’t live independently during the entire 24 hour time span, they’re in need of skilled nursing.
If you get in the situation where the decision becomes necessary, don’t be afraid to ask for help from experts in the field, or your personal doctor.
Featured Image Source: www.harrogatelifecare.org
