Nursing

By Steven E on Aug 30, 2009 | Reply

nursing patient care

Assisted living is when you go into the persons home and help them out with everyday things, so they don’t have to go into a nursing home.

By ms P on Sep 2, 2009 | Reply

nursing news

I believe assisted living is where the patients are more able to care for them self and better off than the nursing home patients.

By Diane A on Sep 4, 2009 | Reply

history of nursing

The names really says it all. In an assisted living, you only assist! The residents are pretty self-care & mobile & just need some help. In a nursing facility, they pretty much need round-the- clock skilled nursing of some kind & probably more meds, assessments, care, feedings etc.

By tricia on Sep 4, 2009 | Reply

journal of nursing

Nursing home residents need help with almost all of their ADLs, there are obviously a wide range of patients and they all need different levels of care. Assisted living facilities have criteria or certain things that people have to be able to do on their own in order to live in the facility. They can usually get around pretty well, get themselves ready, feed themselves, etc. and just need minimal assistance or even simply need the assurance of knowing that help is nearby in case they do need something even if they are basically self-sufficient. One thing to consider is that CNAs in assisted living facilities generally get paid less than those in nursing homes simply because they don’t have to do as much work. If you want to stay busy at work then a nursing home is a better option but if you want more down time and less physical labor then assisted living is probably a better route.

By Ryan M on Sep 4, 2009 | Reply

role of nursing

Hi,

Having recently had my mother in both of these types of facilities, it differs by level of care and also the staffing requirements.

In a nursing home (sometimes called skilled nursing of SNF), the patients typically require more advanced therapies like IVs, wound care, PT or OT. SNFs have strict requirements in most states regarding the number of RNs, LVNs and CNAs per patient. These facilities can be long-term care but are also used as transitional facilities for folks that are recovering from surgeries (i.e. someone needs IV antibiotics for a month).

Assisted living is not really medically oriented. It is designed to provide assistance with daily tasks like dressing, cleaning, bathroom, etc. Some facilities have a no-dimentia policy and some are licensed to care for alzheimers patients. There are not strict requirements for nursing or LVNs on staff, and most do not require full-time nurses. Most use med-techs for medication management. The patients in assisted living are mostly all long-term and there can be (with the right place) a more familial environment.

I often got questions like these from friends and family, so ended up started a blog to discuss these kinds of issues. Feel free to check it out, or send me a private note if you want to chat more. Good luck on the new gig!

Ryan