What are the main differences between assisted living and nursing homes?

Does your mom have memory problems? My mom has Alzheimer’s. She started out in ALF but has moved to memory care unit in the same facility. Her mind was getting worse and she needed help getting around.

All I can say is that my step father had to be able to transition from his wheel chair to the bed, toilet and shower to be accepted in AL.

It really depends on the facility. Some assisted living facilities are like hotel rooms. Others have complete kitchens, separate living room, swimming pool, exercise rooms, game rooms with poker tables and pool tables.

Nursing homes have staff geared towards medical care. Some though, have volunteers that play music, sing, etc.

Both usually have an activity director that plan activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, bingo, etc. Both have religious services.

Facilities vary WIDELY here and you should visit some. There are often companies that will take you and your Mom visiting and you can learn on the spot how far they can go in care. The amount of money over the monthly room charge will depend on level of care needed. Someone who can take own meds, move about and who is not incontinent will be a level one, paying the least. Someone with more needs will move up in level and cost. Generally needing memory care or nursing home would indicate the need for a lot of care with hygiene and mobility and also memory deficits.

Go on line and print a list of activities is daily living and check off the items that your LO needs help with or can do on her own. Keep in mind there is independent living, assisted living, personal care, memory care and skilled nursing. The check list will give you an idea of her current abilities. Sometimes a person will fall between two levels and you will have to consider their age and expected long term abilities. If you get them started with getting used to other people helping them you can add on care as it is needed.

I think you also need a doctors order for a NH.
Years ago one of the requirements for ALF was that the elder could transition themselves from wheelchair to commode or bed They had to have at least that level of mobility and be able to respond to a fire alarm. I was trying to get my inlaws into one after an evacuation and was given this info as a basic requirement.

Yeah that's my mom right there.
She doesn't even want to go to a nursing home. Thank you

The amount of staff varies tremendously with each. Assisted living usually has
1 staff to 10-11 residents. Small homes (Care, Nursing, etc) 2 staff for 6 residents.
As my sister's dementia and physical needs increased, moving her to 6 bed home
was epic. This became her "home"...not "apartment." Less stimulation from a large facility brought a peaceful calmness. Her daily routines created harmony in her life. We got very lucky,

Nursing homes are formerly called "skilled nursing facilities". They are facilities that care for those that require 24 hour nursing care. Financially, nursing homes are funded 75 % by Medicaid. Other payors are insurance, Medicare and self pay. Assisted living is considered "housing with services" and "comprehensive home care services". It is similar to renting an apartment with provided nursing care and assistance with daily activities. Basically, you are renting an apartment and contracting for home health services. Medicaid does not pay for assisted living. Most are self pay or "elderly waiver", which is a state funded way to pay for assisted living. Unfortunately, some in assisted living could qualify for nursing home care, so assisted living is not enough.

In the US, it’s assisted livings that mainly only take people who need help with their ADLs including bathing and toileting and medication management. Nursing Homes are generally more for those who need round the clock care, can’t perform their ADLs and meet certain medical requirements .

Assisted living is just that - help to live in a reasonably independent way - possibly with meals, washing etc done but no nursing care.

Nursing homes provide dealing with medical requirements as well.

Nursing homes generally only accept people who need help with their ADL's - Bathing and showering, Personal hygiene and grooming, Dressing, Toilet hygiene, Functional mobility (often referred to as "transferring", as measured by the ability to walk, get in and out of bed, and get into and out of a chair independently), Self-feeding.