What Are the Different Levels of Care for Senior Living?

The best way to understand what assisted living is is to see it on a continuum -

• First we live in our own homes completely independent and taking care of all of our needs ourselves.

• Then we decide that taking care of a house is more then we want to do. We are still very active but just want less responsibility so we move to an independent living situation where our grass is mowed and maybe our meals are cooked. Seniors are able to find friends their own age, participate in structured or independent activities and can come and go as they please.

• When we are not quite as independent and need help with our daily care, remembering to take our medications and doing things like washing and cleaning we move to an assisted living situation. CNA's usually provide the care (certified nursing assistants) without the direct supervision of a nurse. No significant medical issues exist which require continuous nursing by a licensed medical practitioner.

• When we become very ill and can do almost nothing for ourselves or we have a medical condition which needs constant care we go into a nursing home. CNA's will still do most of the hands on care but there will be nurses available on-site 24/7 to respond to medical emergencies.

Today there are a number of different ways that these services are provided and each has a different cost. The most ideal situation is this - after selling your family home you purchase a residence in an independent living facility that is connected to an assisted living facility and a nursing home. As you begin to need more care, or if you get sick with an illness from which you expect to recover, for a fee you can temporarily get the benefits of assisted living without having to move. So if you break your leg, have an operation, or just a get a bad flu, you can get assistance until you recover and then go back to living independently. It's especially nice if you are single and really don't have anyone to give you a hand when you are down for a week or a month. Assisted living residences usually have a living plan for the residents so that they know what services they are going to provide and what the fees will be.

Nursing homes are the only living situation that has around the clock medical coverage. People who have had surgery and must leave the hospital before they can care for themselves, based on insurance criteria, often go into nursing homes for a short stay. Those who are seriously ill or cannot do anything for themselves also seek nursing home placement. Family members should chose a nursing home for their loved ones carefully since you will be turning over their minute to minute care to others. You can read Tips for Choosing a Nursing Home www.associatedcontent.com/article/2871962/tips_for_choosing_a_nursing_home.html to help you learn what to look for and the questions to ask when you visit nursing homes.