The terms personal care and assisted living are used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two.
In today’s post, Ivy Knoll explains the difference between personal care and assisted living.
What’s Personal Care?
Personal care isn’t a nursing home. It’s not for people who are completely debilitated, reclusive or bedridden. Seniors in personal care need a little bit of extra help with certain activities. For the most part, it’s a service for those that are still quite mobile.
Personal care can be tailored to meet a resident’s unique challenges and needs. There are gradations to how involved personal care can be. The span of services offered can sometimes cross into what is offered by assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
What’s Assisted Living?
Assisted living is not a skilled nursing care center. They’re even licensed and regulated differently in the state of Kentucky.
Typically, assisted living is for those who need some assistance with daily living activities, like dressing, bathing, and eating. However, they are still fairly mobile and retain some autonomy.
Nursing homes, however, provide intensive, 24/7 care for patients that can no longer be self-sufficient. Assisted living offers a bit more independence. The most hands-off form of care is found in independent facilities that offer customizable personal care options — facilities like Ivy Knoll.
What’s the Difference Between Personal Care & Assisted Living?
The intensity or level of care is what sets these two apart. The lightest form of patient care services comes in the form of general personal care, where residents are assisted with some activities of daily living (ADLs), followed closely by assisted living and — lastly — skilled nursing care. Nursing home care is required for patients that can no longer live independently and need extensive help with their ADLs.
Assisted living facilities, the middle ground between personal care and nursing care, provide residents medical care in a home-like, social setting. They often preferable to nursing homes but do not provide the same level of autonomy and independence seen with personal care facilities.
Although this is the general rule, there are exceptions. The services provided within the domain of personal, nursing or assisted living care can overlap quite a bit.
Ivy Knoll Offers Both Patient Care and Independent Living
At Ivy Knoll, we offer a full spectrum of elderly care, while focusing on sustaining and enhancing independent senior living for the majority of our residents.
If your loved one has new medical needs that require greater assistance with daily activities, you don’t have to leave. In most retirement homes that offer patient care, once a resident has debilitating symptoms, they leave for a skilled nursing home. At Ivy knoll, that’s not the case. We even have some residents who are in hospice care.
How are Personal Care and Assisted Living Facilities Similar?
Both assisted living and personal care facilities provide housing, food, and living assistance. They offer care plans that are flexible and tailored to an individual’s needs.
The personal care services offered at Ivy Knoll allow residents to be able to receive hands-on assistance with daily activities and enjoy independence, all while expanding their mental, emotional and spiritual horizons through plenty of social events, activities, clubs, and excursions into town.
Contact Ivy Knoll Independent Living Community
Our independent living facility offers a well-rounded quality of life for seniors. We provide our residents with autonomy and freedom, while fostering strong community and individually-tailored personal care services. Contact us for more information on housing and floor plan options, or to schedule your free tour of the premise.