Subscribe to our Newsletter and Event Notifications

First Name

Last Name:

E-mail Address:

I am 50+
I am a family caregiver
I am a professional who works with seniors

Residences that Offer Health Care

When an individual needs ongoing care for health needs, and when it is not practical or possible to meet those needs adequately in his or her own home, it may be time to consider a move to a care residence. This does not mean that the individual must go to a nursing home. There are other wonderful care options and nursing homes themselves, which we usually call skilled nursing facilities these days, can be cheerful, pleasant residences that work hard to strengthen or stabilize their residents and discharge them back to their homes, or to a less intensive care setting. Residence options offered today are assisted living, in which residents usually have their own apartments, but receive three meals a day, their medications, and assistance, IF needed, with bathing or dressing. Transportation to doctors or errands is usually available and most assisted living residences offer a full schedule of fun activities for their residents. Residential care homes are similar to assisted living, but are usually quite small and are located in ranch homes in normal residential neighborhoods; they offer care and supervision in a very home-like atmosphere. Dementia care residences offer specialized care for individuals with dementia, including those with Alzheimer's disease. Care is designed to prolong independent functioning and to minimize frustrations and the residences are built to lessen confusion and to keep residents safe. Skilled nursing facilities offer the highest level of care outside a hospital. They provide excellent care for the most serious long-term care needs. Many skilled nursing facilities also offer rehabilitation facilities, where residents come to regain strength and physical and cognitive function after strokes, head injuries or other critical injuries or illnesses. Many skilled nursing facility residents spend a recovery and rehabilitation period in the skilled care facility and then return home or go to assisted living or another lower care-level setting. To learn more about each of these types of care, please see the related section under this portion of our web site.