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What’s the Difference Between a Nursing Home and Assisted Living in AZ?

As a person ages, more lifestyle options become available for those who prefer to live in warmer climates, like Arizona.

As a person ages, more lifestyle options become available for those who prefer to live in warmer climates, like Arizona. Suitable smaller homes might be an option or enjoying some of the amenities offered by assisted living. Those who need extra help taking care of their health or medical needs might opt for nursing homes.

In senior communities, the housing can offer a variety of services and support during daily life (also called activities of daily living, or ADL). These communities can offer independent or assisted living, while others are more like nursing homes. What’s the difference between a nursing home and assisted living in Arizona?

Activities of Daily Living Exist in Both Community Types

Because everyone has different needs, ADLs are going to be catered to senior residents. These may include:

Safe Place to Call Home

Although a nursing home may look more institutional because of the type of care and nursing activities that happen there—often related to nursing and medical care—both locations often offer a place that welcomes the senior individual.

Medication Maintenance

There are support systems put in place to make sure the senior you hold near and dear is supported in their daily medicine routine. Mistakes with the medication dosage can be a leading cause of why seniors find themselves in the emergency room. Sometimes, there are many medicines, and making sure that they are administered correctly can be an important part of day-to-day living.

Ways to Enrich Your Life

There are downsides to living alone, and for the sake of our residents, it’s increasingly important to expose them to new and variable things in their daily lives. Whether someone is dealing with issues related to a medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or depression, or cognitive decline, assisted living communities and nursing homes can offer some of the best choices for enrichment activities. These activities are planned to supplement a senior’s life in an exciting and compelling way. Often, they are well-rounded and focus on physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Staying Young Through Lifestyle Choices

Some older adults opt to establish themselves in situations that support their lifestyle choices and desires. That is to say, after perhaps decades of cleaning, cooking, and laundry, seniors might choose one of the many communities that take care of all of this. Some even include transportation.

Delicious Nutrition

Chef-prepared and restaurant-style dining. Sounds delicious! Cuisine is catered to preferences and allergies and is nutritionally balanced for an optimally healthy diet.

Difference Between Assisted Living and a Nursing Home

Many assisted living communities appear from the exterior to be posh or upscale apartments. There’s very little to distinguish an assisted living community from a luxury apartment complex. On the interior, residents are set up with many of the above services and oftentimes more. Solterra communities include libraries, beauty salons, cinemas, and more. There’s always staff on hand for anything that comes up, and around-the-clock help can provide assistance with day-to-day living.

In a nursing home, however, many of the residents need long-term assistance that is more medically focused. They may need actual care from nurses in addition to help with ADLs. The staff is trained and certified to help with some of the more acute issues of aging or disease and are a support team for the residents of the nursing home. It can appear to be more like a hospital or rehabilitative in-patient care. More specific training and experience are needed for nurses in a nursing home.

In assisted living, help is there when, and if, you need it.

If you’re interested in assisted living in Arizona, contact Solterra to explore what lifestyle choice is right for you.