You’ve heard it before, maybe from a grandparent or your own parents. Or maybe you’ve even said the words yourself: “I’m never going to end up in a nursing home.” The truth is, today’s modern senior living communities couldn’t be further from the old perceptions of a “nursing home.”
In this blog post, we’ll explore what senior living, assisted living and nursing home terms actually mean, and why you might want to reconsider what you have heard about them.
Know Your Senior Living Terminology
A senior living community describes a residential community designed for older adults who are 55 years of age or older. The different levels of care provided at a senior living community will vary, and they often offer a range of services and amenities.
Note that a continuing care retirement community is a special type of senior living community that offers different levels of care that may include services such as skilled nursing and rehabilitation. This type of community typically includes access to care in its upfront and monthly fees.
Independent living is ideal for older adults who enjoy maintaining an active, connected lifestyle in a community setting. Residents enjoy their own private apartments, as well as access to all of the services and amenities that the community offers.
Assisted living is a type of residence for individuals who need a little extra help with daily activities, but not as much as a nursing home provides. Assisted living residents usually live in their own private apartments, but also have access to some type of specialized care based on their needs.
Skilled nursing care offers residences that provide a wide range of health and personal care services. Residents at a nursing home are more likely to need specialized medical care. Services offered at a nursing home may include nursing care, 24-hour supervision and assistance with activities.
Senior Living vs. Nursing Home: What’s the Difference?
Senior living communities are designed for active older adults. Most will offer a variety of services and amenities. Some will also offer access to additional on-site health services, such as skilled nursing care. It is this type of care that people most often think of when using the term “nursing home.” Skilled nursing care is ideal for those who need specialized medical care due to a specific illness or condition. This could be on a long-term or short-term basis.
In other words, a senior living community is often somewhere you choose to move into based on your own set criteria. Whereas a nursing home typically has set medical requirements for entry and provides an advanced level of care when someone has a physical or mental condition.
What Senior Living Communities Are Really Like
Senior living communities are somewhere you move when you are independent and want access to services and amenities that enhance your freedom to explore hobbies and interests. Access to meals, housekeeping and on-call maintenance are just a few examples.
The best time for an older adult to move into a senior living community is right around retirement age, sometimes even before, so they can get the most out of what is being offered. Life at a senior living community is what you make of it. Perhaps the biggest appeal of these types of residences is they provide more opportunities to build relationships and try new things.
A top-notch senior living community will help you get the most out of your retirement and allow you to pursue your passions.
Explore Community Living at Harbour’s Edge
Harbour’s Edge is a continuing care retirement community that offers abundant services and amenities, on top of access to on-site skilled nursing and rehabilitation health services as needed. When you choose to live at Harbour’s Edge, you gain access to a supportive community that gives you the tools and freedom to be as social and active as you want to be.
Contact us today or complete the form below to learn more about life at Harbour’s Edge.
