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What’s the Difference Between Long-Term Care and Assisted Living?

Long-Term Care vs Assisted Living

•Mar, 21, 2021

What’s the Difference Between Long-Term Care and Assisted Living?

The main difference between long-term care and assisted living is the level of independence a senior can sustain on a daily or weekly basis. Assisted living facilities usually provide one or two built-in care options for residents, while long-term care homes offer far more rigorous, 24-hour supervision and support for seniors.

Another differentiator between the two is the base-level cost associated with either option. With recent reports indicating that long-term care costs will balloon to $71B by 2050, prospective residents and their families can expect to see local options get progressively more expensive over time. That said, assisted living can also pile up additional costs due to the number of care options that require external professional help.

Also, the financial and psycho-social impact of long-term care will vary from individual to individual based on the length of stay. The average length of a long-term care home stint for Canadian seniors is around 18 months, a period that can lead to a transition into an assisted or independent living situation if deemed safe and appropriate.

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Long Term Care | The Basics

Long-term care encompasses various services that help support older adults’ needs with a chronic illness or disability that limits their ability to consistently care for themselves. These limitations can both medical and non-medical, but they typically mean the senior requires continual supervision, if not skilled care in some form.

Most long-term care facilities help residents with daily living activities that are essential to their well-being. This can include dressing, bathing, using the bathroom, transferring, and eating. To qualify for long-term care, applicants must be at least 65 years of age and be unable to perform one or several of these or related living activities without substantial assistance.

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, there are over 2,000 long-term care homes in Canada. Of those facilities, 46% are publicly owned, and 54% are privately owned (this information doesn’t account for private for-profit or not-for-profit long-term care homes in Quebec, as information wasn’t available at the time of this writing).

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Mar, 21, 2021

Long-Term Care | What to Look out for when You Visit

When you and your family are ready to select a long-term care living arrangement that suits your needs, it’s crucial to obtain all relevant information and ask any questions you deem necessary.

During the process of choosing a care home, always ask for the following:

The facility or company brochure (many places have a digital version available on their website)
A copy of a resident or tenant contract, including a cost breakdown as well as the terms and conditions
Details on the facility’s waiting list procedure and, if there’s already an active list, how long the waiting period is

Once those preliminary steps are complete, the next step to pursue any attractive options is an in-person or virtual visit to the facility. Ideally, seniors should visit the facility with a family member or a close friend.

When visiting a retirement home in-person or virtually, keep the following questions in mind:

Long-Term Care | Moving In

Once you’ve settled on a long-term care facility, it’s time to move forward with the transition process and focus on the move-in.

This part of any senior’s journey can be nerve-wracking for both them and their loved ones. Be sure everyone involved with the transition communicates clearly and frequently with another and the key members of the facility’s management team.

During the packing process, use this checklist as a guide:

Clothing: Pack enough for two weeks that will last in between laundry days. Include clothes for day-to-day living, social and fitness activities, and other specialized events. These items encompass comfortable tops and bottoms, coats for both mild and cold days, sleepwear, slippers, indoor shoes, outdoor shoes, robes, underwear, socks and/or tights, activewear, hats, scarves, and gloves.
Personal hygiene: Take all the products that will make you feel more at home in your new space. These can include prescription medicine, supplements, soap, shampoo and conditioner, makeup, perfume or cologne, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, body lotion, moisturizer, shaving products, and more.
Bedding: Bringing your own bedding can make you feel more at ease, especially if you have a specific personal preference. For example, you may want to bring your own blanket, comforter, throw, pillow, and pillowcase.
Electronics: Bring all the essentials like a smartphone, tablet, computer, TV and remote, camera, headphones, and the chargers and cords for all the items.
Bedroom furniture: The care home may provide these items, but double-check with management to see if you can bring your own desk, drawers, nightstand, bookshelf, or lamp.
Personal items: items like framed photos, photo albums, books, movies, puzzles, games, and other decorative items can help ease the move.

Labeling all items not provided by the retirement home is highly recommended, just in case they get lost, mixed up with communal items, or if you have cognitive limitations.