For those considering assisted living and nursing homes, you’ve likely heard of these terms before. Not knowing the difference between these two types of senior care can lead to confusion about which is better — and most suited to a senior’s needs.
And with so many different types of senior care facilities available — memory care versus nursing homes, assisted living versus memory care, and more — you’re now faced with more decisions than ever.
Choosing between more care options is a great problem to have. We’re here to help you simplify the decision-making process, so you can focus on spending more quality time with your loved one and less time worrying about the level of care they’ll receive.
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between assisted living versus nursing homes, this article is for you.
Join us! In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What assisted living and nursing homes are
- The difference between assisted living communities and skilled nursing care facilities
- How services compare in assisted living versus skilled nursing care facilities
- The criteria needed to be eligible for assisted living and nursing homes
- Assessments for admission in assisted living and nursing homes
- The costs of assisted living versus nursing homes
Assisted living and nursing homes: 5 key differences
| Assisted living | Nursing homes |
| 1. Assisted living facilities provide help with activities of daily living 2. Restaurant and pub-style dining — plus happy hours 3. A full social calendar of activities, outings, and in-house events 4. Apartment-style options including one-bedroom and club suite living arrangements 5. Less medical attention needed | 1. Skilled nursing care specialists provide extensive, 24-hour medical care to nursing home patients 2. Significant help with meals and feeding Increased safety features 3. Private and shared rooms 4. More medical attention needed |
Let’s take a deeper look at assisted living communities
Assisted living communities: these are long-term housing arrangements for older adults who are active but need some support with activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, and medication management).
Assisted living facilities tend to provide opportunities to live a social lifestyle for seniors who are active but need help with everyday tasks. The strong sense of community can be a huge selling point for those looking for community-style living with comprehensive amenities and benefits that won’t break the bank.
And let’s explore nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities
In contrast, nursing homes are for seniors and older adults who need full-time monitoring and medical support. Nursing homes offer some of the highest levels of medical care for individuals who don’t need full-time hospitalization, monitoring, or medical support.
Comparing services in assisted living and nursing homes
Assisted living communities offer services and amenities to keep residents healthy, engaged, and independent. Whereas the main focus of nursing home care is to provide round-the-clock medical care to monitor involved health issues.
Skilled nursing care is a key feature of nursing homes. In skilled nursing facilities, medical professionals are available 24/7 to help support older adults and seniors. Nursing homes are best suited for individuals with serious medical conditions, and individuals who need specialized care from a licensed healthcare professional.
While assisted living can provide healthcare, its main focus is on the activities, entertainment, socializing, and light help at meal times. In contrast, nursing homes focus on providing activities that nourish residents and patients who are ill or need more medical support.
Common services and amenities in assisted living communities
Common services and amenities found in assisted living communities include the following:
- On-site activities tailored to residents’ needs
- Medication management
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Off-site field trips
- Pet-friendly accommodations
- Complimentary transportation
- Bistro-style dining
- In-apartment kitchenettes
A few assisted living facilities that provide enhanced medical care also offer the following:
- On-site hospice care and nursing
- Wound care
- On-site skilled nursing facilities
Common services and amenities in nursing homes
In contrast, nursing homes offer some of the same services as assisted living facilities. But, the scope of medical care at a nursing home is often greater than at an assisted living facility.
Some of the services provided include the following:
- Ongoing palliative and preventative long-term care
- Prescription medication administration including intravenous injections
- Dialysis support
- Specialized rehabilitation services, including speech, occupational, physical, respiratory, cognitive, and vocational therapy
- Emergency and routine dental services
- Specialized diets for those with limited ability to digest whole foods
- Increased safety and security features
At nursing homes and many assisted living facilities —for patients who’ve been in the facility for a long time — external companies contracted by the facility provide medical care services.
Individuals who need more extensive medical care from nurses and physicians can qualify for a nursing home. Individuals who’ve had major strokes, disabling falls, or chronic diseases may qualify to stay in a nursing home.
The benefits of assisted living and nursing homes
While nursing home care tends to focus on people with chronic medical conditions, assisted living services tend to serve active seniors looking for a community that offers a social lifestyle and help with everyday tasks.
Nursing homes are ideal for seniors who need higher levels of care or who live with chronic or severe health problems.
Note: A loved one’s physician should always be included when any type of care placement is discussed. Some assisted living facilities state that bloodwork or chest X-rays are conditions for admission.
In fact, nursing homes state that a physician must determine a person’s eligibility.
Older adults who are self-sufficient but need a little extra help staying safe, socializing, and taking care of light housekeeping tend to benefit from assisted living. Whereas a person with significant challenges with activities of daily living — that is, people with severe or chronic illnesses — can benefit from the medical care and supervision offered in a nursing home.
In sum, assisted living benefits those seniors who may:
- Need a little bit of nursing assistance but not full-time medical care
- Support with daily activities like dressing, bathing, and taking medicine
- Desire to live an independent lifestyle without the need for home repairs
- Prefer to have local, on-site transportation available
- Enjoy socializing with others and engaging in diverse activities
- Are healthy but may need more health support in the future
Nursing home care benefits those seniors who may:
- Need more involved healthcare due to chronic conditions or declining health
- Not be able to feed themselves
- Not be as mobile
- Be prone to injuries or falls
- Be diagnosed with a progressive health condition
- Need injections for a chronic health condition
Entry criteria for assisted living versus nursing homes
When deciding between assisted living and nursing homes, consider that each has different criteria for entry. While assisted living communities mention that residents need to meet certain health standards and functional requirements, nursing homes are different.
One of the only entry requirements to confirm that a senior is eligible for a nursing home is that they need a higher level of care. For example, assisted living communities tend to say that residents need to be able to eat and transfer from a bed or wheelchair without much help.
What’s more, assisted living communities may also not accept residents with severe cognitive impairments and behavioral issues.
To enter a nursing home and qualify for ongoing medical care, prospective residents must complete an assessment. Most states mention that seniors must complete a physical assessment per a physician’s order to be eligible to receive care from licensed nursing homes.
And, as always, a senior must meet each state’s criteria to enter a nursing home.
Comparing assisted living versus nursing home assessments
Speaking of assessments, both assessments are used to help decide on whether an older adult needs care. Nursing homes and assisted living communities often will look at health histories of the older adult to create personalized care plans for the senior.
With an assisted living assessment, the assessment focuses on how a person scores in completing general activities of daily living. Staff will ask about the dietary needs, mobility, and cognition of the senior, so a personalized care plan can be created.
Assisted living communities also address medical needs and provide extra help. But, extra medical care comes with an extra cost.
When comparing assisted living assessments to nursing home assessments, nursing home assessments focus on debilitating physical illnesses.
And, as mentioned before, a physician must document and sign off on the senior’s health before admitting the senior to a nursing home.
Did you know?
Did you know that our Village Walk Voices choir spreads holiday cheer to skilled nursing facilities across New York? In years past, we visited Mills Pond Nursing Home, Luxor Nursing and Rehab in Sayville, NY, and St. James Nursing and Rehab.
We sing to spread love and perform holiday songs for senior living communities and nursing homes across the New York region. We made so many new friends, and we look forward to visiting again!
For a closer look at the type of care provided, services, and amenities offered to our residents, please visit our Facebook page.
Assisted living versus nursing home costs
Comparing the cost of assisted living to nursing homes is like comparing apples to oranges. Nursing home care is more expensive than assisted living, because residents need more intensive care in nursing homes, so comparing the costs of the two care options is tough.
The cost of skilled nursing tends to be double of that of assisted living. For example, the median annual cost of a private room in a nursing home was $116,800 whereas the median cost of a private, one-bedroom in an assisted living facility costs about $64,200 in 2023 (Statista, 2023).
Other than specialized memory care units in an assisted living facility, assisted living tends to be less expensive than nursing homes because nursing homes provide more specialized care to seniors than assisted living facilities.
What’s more, nursing homes hire staff who provide round-the-clock medical care. Also, with more staff on deck than in assisted living facilities, nursing care tends to be more expensive than assisted living care.
As always, though, the cost of nursing homes differs by community, location, and services offered.
Seniors can pay for assisted living and skilled nursing care costs by using private funds, savings, personal assets, and other forms of payment. Government support is also available to help lower-income residents pay for nursing home costs.
Alas, government support is limited for paying for assisted living community costs.
Assisted living or nursing homes: which is best?
The question remains then, “Which offers the best personal care: assisted living or nursing homes?” To help decide which senior living option is best, consider the option that best meets your loved one’s needs in the present and future.
Keep in mind that as your loved one ages, their needs may evolve, and they may need more skilled care. Many assisted living facilities employ senior care advisors who can help with this process.
At Village Walk, our senior care team has decades of experience providing care and support to older adults. We are unwavering in our commitment to being steadfast advocates for adults and their loved ones as they navigate their golden years.
Note: As a first step, you should always defer to an assisted living assessment before making your decision. The assessment process is the first step in helping people choose whether an assisted living community or nursing home facility is best for them.
Plus, an assessment can help you live your life with as much independence as possible and give you the confidence to choose the least restrictive environment possible.
If you’re on the fence about — or would like more information to guide you on — which type of senior living option is best for you and your loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out to a friendly and knowledgeable member of our senior care team. We’d be happy to answer any questions, schedule a tour, and connect you to the right resources at no extra cost.
