Is Assisted Living or Senior Living the Better Choice for My Elderly Loved One?

If you have an elderly parent or other loved one that is in need of care, you might be wondering where to start researching your options. Though the senior citizen population grows every year, the amount of senior housing options has not kept up with that growth and therefore limits the choices that your loved one might have. The terms assisted living and senior living or housing are thrown around a lot, but are you aware of the differences between these two?

What Is an Assisted Living Community?

An assisted living community is for senior citizens that are usually 85 years old or older. There is a large range of different assisted living communities that offer different services; some are targeted for especially frail seniors that cannot take care of themselves at all, and others are for seniors who need basic care. Some assisted living communities will offer on-site nursing care, while others will have both on-site and off-site care. The main descriptive factor of this type of elderly living is that there is some sort of assisted care offered. This can include help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or eating if necessary. They don’t, however, offer extensive medical care, which is what differentiates this choice from a nursing home.

What Is a Senior Living Community?

This type of elderly living community is for retirement age-seniors and older. There is no in-home nursing care offered at these facilities, and residents have easy access to clubs, social groups, and sports activities. This living community is intended for relatively healthy elderly adults that are 60 or older. They will sometimes be equipped health and fitness centers, pools, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and spas. This is a great choice if your elderly loved one is able to live independently, and he or she would like to find a community with other seniors.

If you are still unsure what the best choice is for your senior family member, you should consider hiring an elder law attorney. The law office of Brandon L. Campbell can assist you and your loved one with deciding the best option for long-term care, based on his or her physical and mental needs. Contact us today for a free consultation to get started.