Assisted Living Facilities vs. Nursing Homes

Abuse of the elderly has become an epidemic in the United States. A great deal of elder abuse occurs in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, especially for-profit elder care facilities where cutting costs is prioritized above care and comfort.

The nursing home abuse attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A. truly care about the well-being of your family, and we will fight tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve if your loved one has been harmed or neglected in a long-term care facility in South Carolina.

The terms “assisted living” and “nursing home” are often used interchangeably; however, there are actually a number of differences between the two types of facilities.

Assisted Living

Assisted living facilities offer mature adults a comfortable living situation with other seniors who can no longer manage a home or apartment on their own, and offer:

• More independence from caretakers, some assistance with daily activities
• Social activities for residents, who make independent decisions about their day-to-day routine and level of privacy
• Limited or no medical care. Residents are generally in good mental and physical health
• Comfortable apartments, cafeteria-like eating arrangements, and other amenities

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes, on the other hand, provide round-the-clock medical and daily-living care for seniors unable to care for themselves. In some nursing homes, doctors make rounds and prescribe medications as they would in a hospital. Nursing home residents:

• Are considered patients, not clients
• Have little or no privacy
• Often share rooms with other patients.

Though assisted living and nursing homes are different environments, elder abuse takes place in both types of elder care facility. For-profit nursing homes and assisted living centers have a financial incentive to provide less care and attention, cutting costs by cutting staff and amenities. As a result, these facilities are often understaffed, and the remaining staff may work long hours with low pay.

If your elderly loved one has been abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, please contact the nursing home negligence attorneys of McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A., serving Sumter, Columbia and surrounding areas of South Carolina today to schedule a no-cost confidential consultation.