What’s the Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes?
Assisted living is a great option if you could use a little help with daily routines like dressing, bathing or managing medications.
Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing communities, are designed for more complex health needs. Licensed nurses and trained team members are available 24/7 to provide hands-on care—whether it’s for a short recovery stay or longer-term support.
Who Can Benefit Most From Assisted Living?
Assisted living may be a good option for you if you’re looking for care that allows you to stay independent while still receiving the assistance you need. Our assisted living communities blends a vibrant lifestyle in a homelike environment, with 24/7 care if needed.
Who Can Benefit From Nursing Homes?
A nursing home could be for you if you require long-term medical care for things such as a serious medical condition, time-sensitive medication management or other kinds of extensive care or treatment.
What is Skilled Nursing?
Skilled nursing communities are supportive environments that provide healthcare resources like physical, occupational and speech therapy. Brookdale’s skilled nursing team provides 24/7 care.
The terms “skilled nursing” and “nursing home” are often used interchangeably, while the biggest difference is the length of stay. You can likely receive skilled nursing care for short-term treatment to recover from an injury or hospitalization, whereas nursing homes are designed for more long-term care.
Assisted Living, Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing: What Are the Differences?
At Brookdale, we take pride in providing exceptional senior living services that cater to a range of needs. While assisted living communities, nursing homes and skilled nursing offer care for seniors who need assistance with daily life, there are some key differences that are important to consider when looking for care.
Assisted Living
- Homelike environment
- Private apartment
- Social programming and experiences
- Dining room
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- Events and fitness classes
Nursing Homes
- Long-term care
- Medical environment
- Private or shared room
- Group activities
- Dining services or modified diet as needed
- Clinical services such as feeding tubes, wound care and extensive medications
- End-of-life or hospice care
Skilled Nursing
- Short-term care
- Rehab setting
- Clinical services such as IV treatments, post hospital care, physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Addressing diagnoses such as stroke and heart failure
- Dining services or modified diet as needed
- Shared or private rooms
What Kind of Care Do You Receive?
Assisted living communities are designed to support seniors who want to live in a homelike environment with professional help to live out daily activities.
In a Brookdale assisted living community, you can:
- Receive assistance with things like bathing, dressing, mobility and medication management
- Have opportunities to make connections and build friendships at social events
- Utilize scheduled transportation services for fun excursions
Nursing homes, on the other hand, provide a higher level of clinical care and supervision for seniors with more complex medical needs.
Nursing homes are:
- Staffed by licensed healthcare professionals who provide specialized clinical care—services like wound care, IV therapy and physical therapy
- Supported by a clinical atmosphere, with greater focus on nursing care and less on socializing
Factors That Affect Costs
We know that the cost of care is an important consideration when exploring senior living options. While the cost of care can vary, there are some general differences between the costs of assisted living and nursing homes.
Assisted Living
Nursing Homes
Assisted living is a great fit for you when daily support adds ease to life. From help with dressing and bathing to medication reminders, care is tailored to your routine. Some of our communities even offer on-site outpatient therapy, adding flexibility if needs grow over time.
Skilled nursing communities, sometimes called nursing homes, offer 24/7 clinical care and rehabilitation services. They’re well-suited for those who benefit from ongoing medical support and hands-on attention.
Why Choose Assisted Living?
Both assisted living and skilled nursing offer help with daily tasks, while assisted living at Brookdale adds more to your day. You can enjoy a welcoming community, cozy surroundings and on-site team members available 24/7.
Our events and activities are thoughtfully planned to match your interests—so it's easy to connect, stay active and truly feel at home.
Assisted living can be a cost-friendly choice with daily support, social connection and time to enjoy life.
Have questions? Our senior living advisors are here to help. They can walk you through your options and connect you with a community that fits your needs.
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