A Look at Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living Senior Homes

What's in a name? Senior homes used to be called old age homes, implying a protected environment where frail old people could be found being protected from every sort of life hazard. Well, the concept is faulty and the defined group barely exists anymore.

Sure, there are lots of nursing homes serving as senior homes, each with its own level of care and compassion. Watchdog groups and state agencies are now becoming very vigilant in protecting seniors living in senior homes. It can't all be bad. Let's dig deeper and see if there's more to this that's worthwhile.

Skilled Nursing

The idea of skilled nursing facilities serving as senior homes is one part of a marketed strategy to provide for the medical needs of patients who, in this case, also happen to be seniors. Naturally, adjustments for age need to be taken into consideration when recovery from illness and disease is concerned. Unfortunately, monetary concerns drive this vehicle and who pays the bill is paramount in determining which service delivery options are even offered.

Supportive lifestyle elements are often left for patients to decide, probably because they complicate the ease of institutional management and whether any are in place is often budget driven. And so, rather than a program designed to enhance the capacity for a meaningful life experience, we have a skilled nursing scenario that remains medically inclined.

Senior homes should offer more. To interject a thought here - at whatever level one finds oneself, everyone wants a good life.

Assisted Living

Assisted living is a step up from skilled nursing care. Senior homes are commonly operated by charitable groups, private organizations and corporate entities. The makeup can be practical or have the look of a resort community. Medical care, basic service and dining are typically available a-la-carte and living space décor ranges from austere to opulent.

Still, the idea is a little more holistic than skilled nursing since the resident seniors are able to keep a small version of their own home, with knick-knacks and personal belongings. Maintenance is provided but everything comes with a price tag and not everyone can afford it.

Grateful for any Home

Medicare and Medicaid provides for care in senior homes even if it is the plain vanilla variety of services. It is a good safety net but not a great one. I wonder what people would think if they were told they live in a good country but not a great one. Just a thought&

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