Determining if Nursing Home, Assisted Living or Independent Living Is Right for Your Aging Parent

It may be apparent that your elderly mother or father might need some additional care, but you are not sure what your options are. While you have heard of retirement communities and nursing homes, you aren’t sure what else is out there or the differences between them. This is why you might be unsure whether your loved one needs to reside in an independent living facility, assisted living facility, or skilled nursing facility.

In order to determine where your elderly parent should live, you need to understand the differences between independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. In order to help you in your decision, we have put together a list of some of the differences between these facilities.

• In an independent living facility, elderly adults are still active but want to remain living independently. With this option, elderly adults are able to live on their own in their own apartment but also be tied to a community with other elderly people. In this type of living, they have their own living facilities with kitchens and can come and go as they please.

• In an assisted living facility, people are in need of more care than those who live in an independent living facility but not the kind of care those in skilled nursing homes are given. Most assisted living facilities have the option of semi-private or private rooms within the retirement community. This type of living is great for seniors who need some help with daily activities such as bathing and dressing. Typically these communities will have dining rooms and meals available to residents who cannot cook for themselves.

• In a skilled nursing home, elderly people need constant, 24/7 care. These facilities are designed for people who cannot live independently and need help with walking, toileting, dressing, bathing, and other daily needs. Additionally, those who have disabilities or conditions such as Alzheimer’s need the full-time nursing care these facilities provide. Meals are generally provided in these facilities.

It is important to make the right choice for your loved one. If you need additional information about nursing homes in Florida and which ones to avoid, please read our articles about those on the Florida’s Watch List.

Even if you have made the right decision, something could have gone wrong and your elderly parent might have been a victim of abuse or neglect. If you have questions about your rights, contact a South Florida nursing home attorney at the Law Offices of David Benenfeld at 954-677-0155 for a free consultation today.