Your loved one may need to move from their assisted living community to a nursing home when their health deteriorates to the point that they need round-the-clock care. You may also want to consider a move to a nursing home if your loved one requires pureed meals, becomes bedridden, or has frequent hospitalizations. Assisted living is a better fit for seniors who need help with daily activities like bathing and dressing, but not for those who have developed a complex condition requiring significant medical attention.
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If your loved one needs medically related assistance overnight, they should consider a nursing home. While assisted living communities provide 24-hour care, it’s typically for minor assistance related to activities of daily living (ADLs). This includes helps with tasks such as toileting, grooming, or bathing.
Nursing homes provide the highest level of care available outside of a hospital setting. Nursing home staff include licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and aides. Beyond assisting with ADLs, these facilities help with medical needs including:
Seniors with complex or progressive medical conditions may need to move into a nursing home. Consider whether your loved one has had complications with their condition, has recently needed specialized medical care, or is in the later stages of their condition.
Complex medical conditions that may require skilled nursing care include:
It’s important to note that seniors with dementia may be better suited for a memory care community if they don’t have advanced medical needs.
Seniors who need a significant amount of assistance to eat may receive better nutrition in a nursing home. Nursing homes are equipped to help seniors who need pureed meals, a liquid diet, or even a feeding tube.
Assisted living communities do typically accommodate specialized diets by offering kosher or no-sodium options. However, most communities aren’t able to accommodate residents who need pureed meals.
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If your loved one is bedridden or needs significant assistance moving, they may need a nursing home. Nursing home caregivers are adept at moving seniors, often wheelchair users, to or from a bed, chair, or toilet.
Additionally, seniors who spend several hours a day in bed may get bedsores. Nursing home caregivers are typically trained to help prevent and tend to bedsores.
If you need help finding an assisted living option, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help walk you through potential options in your area. And their advice comes at no cost to you.
It’s not uncommon for seniors to spend some time in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility while they recover from an illness, injury, or surgery. To help seniors recover after a major medical event, nursing homes offer several therapy options, including:
In this situation, many seniors can return to their assisted living community after a short stay. However, if your loved one is admitted to the hospital frequently due to falls, injuries, or poor health, they may need more care than their assisted living community can provide. Nursing homes can also help seniors avoid risks like secondary infections, bedsores, and falls.[01]
Seniors in nursing homes have access to licensed medical caregivers that can administer medications for complex conditions, such as giving injections for diabetes. Typically, a nursing home can cover a wide range of needs that an assisted living community can’t, such as IV therapy and catheter care.
However, it’s important to note that the level of medication management available will vary by assisted living community. Each state has different licensing requirements, and the types of caregivers on staff will also vary.
Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.
Assisted living communities have licensing requirements that specify the type of care they can provide. Seniors will typically have a care plan that’s updated annually or after a significant medical event. If the community determines that they can’t safely meet your loved one’s care needs, they may recommend a nursing home. In some states, licensing requirements may specify how many hours of care a resident can receive each week. Requiring more care time than a community can provide would also be outside of a community’s licensing requirements.
You’ll likely need a doctor to confirm that your loved one meets the nursing home requirements before they can move in. Other documents and tasks that may need to be completed prior to moving include medication and treatment orders, a physical examination, state-required forms, vaccines, a tuberculosis test, and the facility’s admission paperwork.
Once your loved one’s care needs have been established, finding a nursing home in your area that fits these needs comes next. Check out our online directory of nursing homes to find one in your area at NursingHomes.com. Our listing site offers reviews, descriptions, photos, and contact information on over 15,000 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities across the country.
If you need help finding an assisted living option, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help walk you through communities in your area. They’ll work with your needs and budget to find a good fit, and their advice comes at no cost to you.
Key Takeaways
Fernandez, H. M., Callahan, K. E., Likourezos, A., et al. (2008, February 25). House Staff Member Awareness of Older Inpatients’ Risks for Hazards of Hospitalization. Archives of Internal Medicine.
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