Skilled Nursing vs. Assisted Living: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to choosing the right type of senior living for your loved one, you want to make sure you weigh all the options. You also want to have an understanding of the type of care your loved one will receive under each type. In this article, we will break down two different types of senior living: assisted living and skilled nursing.
Assisted Living
Independent seniors who need a bit of extra help can benefit from moving out of their home into an assisted living community. A key benefit of assisted living is the presence of a community and socialization component as well as assistance with daily activities. This is a long-term senior living option for seniors that do not need extensive care, as these are apartment-style communities focus more on socialization and enjoyment rather than medical care. If necessary, physicians are usually on call rather than available 24/7.
Skilled Nursing
If your loved one is in need of medical care for a specific illness or injury, or is recovering from surgery, a skilled nursing community could be the right option for them. Skilled nursing communities provide help with daily activities and have a team of nurses available 24/7 to provide any medical care residents need. These communities are usually for short-term care and focused on getting the patient back to regular functioning to return home. They have a clinical feel, with rehabilitation and therapy options available.
Will Insurance Cover It?
The majority of skilled nursing facilities participate in Medicare or Medicaid. For short-term rehabilitation following a qualifying hospital stay, Medicare will pay for skilled nursing facilities (also called nursing homes, convalescent homes, or senior rehab facilities). Medicaid, on the other hand, only provides coverage for low-income Americans who have few assets. Long-term care services are covered by Medicaid, unlike Medicare.
However, Medicare and Medicaid do not usually cover assisted living. It is often self-pay and can be funded by long-term care insurance, the sale of real estate, life insurance, veterans aid and attendance, or a bridge loan, but not by long-term care insurance.
Skilled Nursing in Conroe, Texas
At Conroe Health Care Center in Conroe, Texas, we provide premium nursing care, superior therapy services, and unmatched personal care. The extraordinary quality of our care is specifically designed to ensure every resident is met with success.
If you feel your loved one may benefit from our skilled nursing care, feel free to reach out to us so we can answer any questions you may have.