What You Need to Know: The Differences Between Assisted Living Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities
by Jodi McKinney

For a person who is about to leave their home of possibly 30 or more years, it may seem all the same – adapting to a new environment. But when an individual or an individual's family decides that it's time to increase the level of care that an older adult receives, be careful to pay attention to the details.

There are two primary options for older adults who need to change their current living arrangements - Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF). The level of care needed often determines which type of facility is most appropriate for that individual.

ALFs are for people needing assistance with aspects of daily living, but wishing to live as independently as possible - for as long as possible. Assisted living serves to bridge the gap between independent living and SNFs. Residents in ALFs are not able to live by themselves, but do not require constant care either. ALFs offer help with activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, and assistance with medications, yet do not offer care as extensive as those individuals in SNFs. The idea is that the help is there if needed, yet independence is encouraged. The key to understanding assisted living is that it is not an alternative to SNFs, but an intermediate level of care.

In many instances, ALFs team with outside healthcare organizations, such as Celtic Healthcare, to provide integrated care services. Through Medicare and insurance-covered home healthcare services, these healthcare organizations enhance ALF residents' health and well-being significantly by bringing their expertise in geriatric care. Together, the ALF and healthcare provider create a service plan for each individual resident upon admission. The service plan details the personalized services guaranteed by the facility. The plan is updated regularly to assure that the resident receives the appropriate care as his or her condition changes.

The explanation of an ALF already introduced some of the characteristics of a SNF. SNFs, also known as nursing homes, provide a living option where 24-hour medical care is available. In addition to long-term care, residents may be there temporarily for rehabilitation before returning to either an assisted living facility or their independent living. Skilled nursing facilities are regulated by the state, which defines the services that an SNF must provide.

For more information about the differences between ALFs and SNFs and/or Celtic Healthcare, please visit www.celtichealthcare.com call 800-355-8894 or e-mail info@celtichealthcare.com.

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