Senior Care Facilities
MKR Senior Health Strategist Placement Service provides assisted living and nursing home placement services for seniors and their families, helping to relieve the emotional burden of finding a safe, comfortable, and affordable home for your aging loved one. With a variety of elder care facilities to consider, there are options to suit a wide range of medical needs, preferences, and specific lifestyles. Our senior care consultants are here to help you learn more about each type of senior care facility, so you can make an informed decision and move forward with confidence.
What are the different levels of senior care?
Generally, senior care is categorized according to the degree of skill, supervision, and duration of care needed on a day to day basis. In order to determine the ideal level of senior care for you or a loved one, it’s important to evaluate medical needs, potential memory loss challenges, preferred living arrangement, budget, and plans for the future.
While there is some variance in the labeling of senior care levels, the following is a helpful guide to help you better understand your options:
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Skilled care vs. custodial care: Regardless of the type of senior living facility of community, at the highest level of senior care there are two primary categories. Custodial care, sometimes referred to as non-skilled care, is designed to assist seniors with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing and eating. This level of care is commonly selected for seniors that may not have significant medical issues, but are facing memory loss conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Skilled care, or skilled nursing can only be facilitated by licensed medical personnel, and typically suits seniors with complex medical needs that their loved ones are unable to regularly or safely fulfill. Both custodial and skilled care can be provided in a residential care setting, an adult daycare facility, or in the senior’s home.
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Assisted living vs. memory care: Memory care and assisted living services are generally offered as part of a full-time residential facility. There, staff are available to ensure the health, safety, and comfort of residents with around-the-clock care and assistance. Meals, social and educational activities, and other amenities are also usually included at this level of care. Assisted living facilities can vary greatly in the level of independence and professional support provided to the residents, depending on their specific needs and conditions. As an assisted living resident, a senior may be able to take advantage of offsite outings and live in a private apartment, while still receiving help with medication, meals, and tasks such as laundry.
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In a memory care facility, extra security measures are in place to protect its patients, who typically suffer from varying degrees of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other memory loss issues. These facilities usually have a lower staff-to-resident ratio, and may restrict outings and unsupervised outdoor access to ensure residents’ safety. Additionally, memory care facilities often implement regular activities specifically designed to help slow the progression of memory loss.
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Retirement housing vs. long-term care facilities: For many healthy, active, and independent seniors, retirement communities provide an ideal living arrangement. Retirement community residents usually maintain personal independence and live in a private single-family home, condominium, or apartment. In addition, they also enjoy the benefit of an age-restricted community and amenities designed specifically for seniors. Many retirement communities offer advantages such as added security, social activities, resort-style living, and neighborhood recreational centers.
Long-term care facilities can include assisted living, nursing homes, hospice care, and continuing care communities, and are designed for seniors that need varying levels of support and medical assistance.
Selecting the ideal level of senior care for yourself or a loved one can feel like a daunting task, but the senior care consultants at MKR Senior Health Strategist Placement Service are here to support you every step of the way.
What are the different types of senior living residences or assisted living facilities?
When you’re searching for care facilities for your aging loved one, it may seem like there is an endless array of options to choose from. While having so many different types of senior care may feel overwhelming, the extensive variety of options actually makes it possible to find a living arrangement that perfectly suits you loved one’s needs.
The most common types of senior living residences and assisted living facilities include:
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Assisted living allows seniors to live with considerable independence when possible, while still assisting with personal care, transportation, and other daily tasks as needed.
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Nursing homes offer skilled care from trained medical professionals on an ongoing basis, and are ideal for seniors with complex medical needs.
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Memory care facilities are specifically for patients with degenerative memory conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Safety and supervision are prioritized, as is assistance with everyday tasks, a consistent living environment and routine, and expertly-designed activities.
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Hospice care is a type of senior care for those in the last several months of a terminal disease. Medical treatment is provided to ensure the highest possible level of comfort, and attention is given to maximizing quality of life.
What type of facilities provide geriatric care?
Aside from independent senior living, such as retirement communities, senior care facilities and services all provide varying levels of geriatric care. Because there is no one-size-fits-all definition for “geriatric care,” it’s important to select a facility that is suited for the type and intensity of care your loved one needs.
Different elements of geriatric care include:
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Assistance with day-to-day tasks and personal care, such as medication administration, dressing, bathing, meal preparation, and eating
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Skilled nursing care services, including general practitioner’s services, pain management, cognitive support, post-surgical rehabilitation, and health monitoring
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Memory care, designed for seniors with memory loss conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, and typically including increased supervision and security, specially-designed activities, and highly-tailored care
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Hospice care is for patients diagnosed with terminal conditions and focuses on providing the necessary care and comfort in the last months of life