Nursing homes are one type of long-term care facility. Other types of long-term care facilities include assisted living communities, residential care homes, memory care communities, and skilled nursing facilities. Nursing homes differ from other long-term care facilities in terms of their focus and the type of care they provide, how much they cost, who tends to pay for a stay, how independent their residents tend to be, and how long they tend to stay.
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A nursing home is a specific type of long-term care facility that provides the highest level of care outside of a hospital. Skilled nursing facilities are similar to nursing homes, but aren’t the same, as they tend to focus on short-term stays. Other types of long-term facilities include:
In most types of long-term care facilities, admission to the facility is based on the residents’ desire to be there. For someone to be admitted to a nursing home, their physician must write an order stating a need for this level of care. This important difference influences other ways in which nursing homes differ from other types of long-term care facilities.
Because their emphasis is on supporting residents’ independence rather than on providing medical care, other types of long-term care facilities generally offer less restrictive environments than nursing homes.
Assisted living communities and residential care homes may invite residents to make their own daily schedules, for example, or even bring their pet with them.
On the other hand, nursing homes are focused on providing medical care. They’re more heavily regulated, and tend to be organized around safety measures and health outcomes.[01]
The cost of a long-term care facility depends on several factors, including the type and level of care provided, amenities and other services, location, and supply and demand. Because they provide more intensive medical care, nursing homes tend to be the most expensive type of long-term care facility, sometimes costing twice as much as a residential care home or assisted living community.
The chart compares the median monthly cost in 2024 for different types of long-term care facilities.[02,03]
| Type of care | Median cost per month |
| Residential care home, semi-private room | $4,000 |
| Residential care home, private room | $5,000 |
| Assisted living | $5,190 |
| Memory care | $6,450 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $9,277 |
| Nursing home, private room | $10,646 |
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In the U.S., most residents of long-term care facilities pay for their stay using personal funds from a variety of sources, followed by public benefit programs such as Medicaid and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).[04] For nursing home residents specifically, Medicaid will pay 100% of the costs for those who don’t have enough money to pay.
As a health insurance program, Medicare won’t pay for long-term stays in any long-term care facility but will often pay for short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities following a hospital stay.
Long-term care insurance is often used to pay for stays and services in all types of residential care facilities, but not many people own these types of policies.[04]
Nursing home stays are typically short, measured in months instead of years.[05] In contrast, the median length of stay at an assisted living community is almost two years, while the average length of a memory care stay is two to 10 years.[06]
For people who need support with activities of daily living (ADLs) but don’t need extensive supervision or specialized medical support, another type of long-term care facility may be a better fit than a nursing home.
For people who have complex medical conditions, need 24/7 medical care, and those who are recovering from surgery or other injuries, a nursing home is likely a better fit. While these communities promote residents’ independence, residents generally need more support than their peers in other types of long-term care facilities.
If your loved one is relatively healthy and enjoys socializing, an assisted living community may be a good fit. Assisted living facilities support seniors with low-level needs, like help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and eating. On a large campus, they can find ways to stay active through clubs, fitness activities, and social events.
While an assisted living community may be a fit for seniors who love to socialize, smaller and more intimate residential care homes can be better for some seniors. Those who still need help with ADLs, but wish to have a close-knit friend group and a homelike atmosphere may find these smaller communities a better option.
If your loved one has received a dementia diagnosis, they may benefit from the specialized care and person-centered design offered in a memory care community.
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When you need help for your loved one, it can be challenging and time-consuming to navigate on your own. The Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom can help you understand what long-term care options may fit your loved one’s unique circumstances and specific considerations. They can assist you with finding local communities within your budget and even set up tours — all at no cost to your family.
Long-term care includes help with daily activities, housekeeping, meals, and sometimes medical care. These services may be provided in a facility or community, or may be provided in someone’s home.
Yes, nursing homes focus specifically on providing high-level medical care.
Residents in assisted living tend to be in their 85 and older, says the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living. According to LongTermCare.gov, someone who turned 65 in 2020 had an almost 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care during their lifetime.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the most common diagnosis among residents of long-term care facilities is high blood pressure, followed by Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024, September 10). Regulations & Guidance.
A Place for Mom. (2025). Cost of long-term care and senior living.
Genworth. (2024). Cost of care survey.
Bonner A, Meier A. (2024, March 28). Nursing home basics: who qualifies, who pays, and other helpful facts. Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Kelly A, Conell-Price J, Covinsky K, et al. (2010, August 24). Lengths of stay for older adults residing in nursing homes at the end of life. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
American Health Care Association. Facts and figures.
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