Though senior living communities have been around for decades, there are still many misconceptions about them. Many older adults and their families don’t fully understand what a Life Plan Community offers, or what the continuum of care is. They also may not know how Independent Living differs from Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing, and what the benefits are of a Skilled Nursing facility versus a nursing home.
Many people may think there are no differences between any of them — perhaps you’re even wondering if you know the differences.
Educating yourself is the first important step in choosing which type of community or care level is right for you or someone you care about.
Senior living, defined
As a phrase, “senior living” is the common term to describe an age-restricted community or complex of free-standing houses, apartments, duplexes or condos specifically designed to meet older adults’ wants and needs.
Some senior living communities may have on-site amenities and services, such as a fitness center, dining options, social opportunities, transportation, housekeeping or laundry, though amenities will vary significantly. Some — but not all — communities offer a maintenance-free environment of the grounds and the residence. Some communities offer the entire continuum of care, which is Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care and Rehabilitation; some communities offer only one level, or perhaps no care on campus at all.
What a Life Plan Community is
A Life Plan Community, also referred to as a Continuing Care Retirement Community, is a type of senior living option. This type of community offers its residents a residence in Independent Living , which allows older adults to enjoy purposeful aging with others without the burdens of home maintenance, cooking, lawn care or housekeeping.
As the resident’s health needs change, they can move into Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing or Memory Care, all of which are often available at the community. The benefit of having the full continuum of care on campus is the resident can seamlessly move to a higher level of care at the same senior living community where their friends are, and where their spouse is. And they’re receiving care from staff members they know and trust.
Generally speaking, most older adults initially move into Independent Living. Then, as their health needs change over time, they can move seamlessly into Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation or Memory Care that’s often available right on the same campus.
Instead of needing multiple moves to other care settings around town, older adults can move within the same retirement community when they need a higher level of care. They’re still close to their spouse and friends, and they’re still receiving the care they need from staff members they know and trust.
If a resident needs rehabilitative care after a hospital stay, they can move back to their familiar Life Plan Community for the care they need instead of into a separate rehabilitative care environment elsewhere.
Nursing home versus Skilled Nursing
The terms nursing home and skilled nursing are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually not the same thing.
A nursing home is where people live when they need high levels of daily nonmedical care, such as:
- Eating, bathing, using the toilet
- Help with sitting up or down or moving about
- 24-hour supervision
- Medication management
Staff at a nursing home provide laundry, housekeeping and meals and lead activities such as exercise classes and special events.
Skilled nursing defines the type of care a resident receives. It’s 24-hour care and extensive assistance provided seven days a week by highly skilled, certified nursing and medical staff members. It can be short-term care, such as recovery after an illness or stroke, or long-term care, such as care for a terminal condition.
A resident will still receive the same type of nonmedical care as a resident at a nursing home. However, skilled nursing residents may also receive medical care for issues like:
- Multiple medical conditions
- Declining memory loss, confusion or disorientation
- Chronic illnesses requiring 24/7 supervision
So if you’re trying to understand the differences between nursing home versus skilled nursing, here’s a quick side-by-side comparison:
- A nursing home offers limited medical care; skilled nursing offers extensive medical care.
- A nursing home typically offers care by nurses’ aides; skilled nursing provides care by doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and other medical personnel.
- A nursing home is typically long term; skilled nursing may be either long term or short term.
Nursing homes versus Life Plan Communities
You might have gathered by now that a nursing home is just a level of care. A Life Plan Community is an entire community that offers Independent Living,, along with other levels of care, on its campus.
There may be similar services provided in a nursing home versus at a Life Plan Community. However, at a nursing home, all residents need some type of assistance; this isn’t the case at a Life Plan Community.
When to consider a senior living community like Friendship Village
Both Friendship Village Sunset Hills and Friendship Village Chesterfield are Life Plan Communities offering the full continuum of care on their campuses. And they’re the only Life Care communities in St. Louis, Missouri, which is considered the gold standard in care.
Learn more about Friendship Village and Life Care when you contact us.