Do you know the differences between a nursing home and an assisted living facility?

Long-term care offers a broad range of medical, personal, and social services needed by people unable to meet the basic living needs for an extended period.The basic needs include bathing, eating and dressing, and it requires the aid of a caregiver or home helper to do them.Residents living in an assisted living facility or nursing home receive help carrying out these activities.Knowing which facility is best for a loved one, at least in the beginning of a search, is confusing and families have trouble understanding the differences.Nursing homesIt is an option for residents who require ongoing medical supervision and continuous nursing care.They have substantial deficiencies with activities of daily living. They are unable to live alone or independently. Residents cannot leave on their own, mainly because they're physically or mentally powerless.While some residents in assisted living might need assistance with medication management, bathing and additional responsibilities, they are capable of handling most activities on their own.• Payments covered by private out-of-pocket pay, private health insurance or long-term care insurance policies. Medicare or Medicaid may also pay for nursing home care under certain circumstances. Costs depend on the level of attention and services one receives.• Nursing facilities certified to participate in Medicare, Medicaid or both.• Certified nursing home has licensed practical nurses on duty 24 hours a day. And for at least 8 hours per day, seven days a week, it's required that a registered nurse be on duty.• Average monthly costs for a nursing home (2015) are $6,691 per month for a semiprivate room or $7,604 per month for a private room.• The state with the highest cost is Connecticut, while the lowest cost is Oklahoma.• The average stay is 28.8 months.Assisted livingIt is an independent option offering security to residents to meet their need for personal care, and daily living activities if required. States regulate assisted living facilities, not the federal government, so limits on services like medication assistance exist.• Payments covered by long-term care insurance, private out-of-pocket pay but not health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, in most cases.• Many states cover some assisted living services under their Medicaid programs; however, these fluctuate widely regarding eligibility requirements and dollar amounts of coverage.• Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are available and on call but are not present at all times.• The average monthly costs for assisted living (2015) are $3,600 per month. The costs increase by the size of apartment and living space.• The state with the highest cost is Massachusetts, while Georgia has the lowest cost.• The average stay is 28.3 months.Carol Marak is the editor at SeniorCare.com.