If you or a loved one may be considering Assisted Living or Nursing Home services, there may be questions about which care level is appropriate. How do you navigate the marketplace and differentiate between Assisted Living vs Nursing Home communities? Let’s start with a basic understanding of these two care levels and related services.
What is Assisted Living?
Typically, Assisted Living services provide care and attention to individuals requiring regular support with activities of daily living (ADLs). These ADLs include, but are not limited to: daily meals, assistance with dressing, bathing, grooming, medication management, housekeeping, laundry, daily activities, transportation, and some medical oversight. With Assisted Living, you will find a range of residential options that include private, apartment-style living arrangements for individuals and couples to maintain their independence as much as possible. Mobility may be a deciding factor for residents in need of Assisted Living services since they will walk to dining venues, participate in activities and Wellness programs, schedule spa and medical services and enjoy common areas such as fitness or recreation studios, outdoor courtyards, art and craft rooms, theaters and libraries.
What is a Nursing Home?
Residents who live in a Nursing Home require medical oversight with some or most of their ADLs, plus transfer services. Daily nursing care may be needed with medication management, restorative therapies, injections, IV management, tube feedings, wound care and memory support. Nurses and support staff provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nursing Homes include hospital-style beds in both private and semi-private rooms.
Nursing Homes offer services for both short- and long-term stays, depending on the medical condition of the person. It is not uncommon for residents to transition from a hospital stay to a nursing home for a limited period of time. In a round-the-clock medical environment, individuals receive continuous care to help them gain back their strength and stamina.
Selecting an Assisted Living vs Nursing Home Facility
Assisted Living companies and Nursing Homes can be independently-owned or franchised in various regions and states and distinguished as either profit or non-profit, with some accepting Medicare/Medicaid and others that do not. Pricing varies with each organization. Some charge a basic fee with add-on expenses for the various services used. Other communities charge an “all-inclusive” fee that incorporates more services with the monthly cost.
How to Make a Decision
Those who transition into Assisted Living or Nursing Care accept a new lifestyle that accommodates their personal needs and interests. Amenities and services create a living environment that provides safety, security, medical oversight, cultural stimulation, daily dining and activities. It is important to inquire about monthly pricing, medical care provisions, staffing ratios, available programs, food service options, physician/nursing support, religious options and availability of transportation.
Why You Should Select King-Bruwaert House
King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge, IL continues a long tradition of providing excellent care and services to residents in a full continuum of care: Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing Care and Independent Living. Experienced, tenured staff members focus on person-centered care for all residents, helping them to acclimate in our warm, friendly and comfortable surroundings. Acclaimed culinary services bring creative, home-cooked meals to the table every day. Seasonal and daily activities plus wellness programs give residents many opportunities to be active and social as they look forward to day-to-day engagement with other people.
Residents enjoy full access to King-Bruwaert’s beautiful 35-acre wooded grounds that include a 1-1/2-mile walking path, gazebo, bocce ball court, two natural ponds, a natural tributary of Flagg Creek plus many gardens and a walking bridge. A convenient dog park makes it easy for owners to walk their canines in a pet-friendly environment. Large, canopied trees and lovely gardens add to the scenic beauty of our unique King-Bruwaert campus bringing great pleasure to residents who appreciate the colorful seasonal changes.
Additional on-site services include physical, speech and occupational therapies, dental and vision services, podiatry care, psychiatric support and a full-service Medical Clinic that remains open five days a week for appointments.
Carrington Hall, King-Bruwaert’s newest Assisted Living Suite project, officially opens this fall. The modern suites feature bright and open floor plans, kitchenettes, in-unit washer-dryers, individually-controlled heating and air conditioning, plus daily meals, weekly housekeeping and scheduled transportation. Reservations are now being accepted for the first- and second-floor suites.
For more information about Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Care, Memory Care or Independent Living, call Director of Admissions Joan Metz at (630) 230-9551 or admissions@kbhouse.org.
