Residential care can have several meanings, including care within a home setting and facility-based care. A residential care facility may also be called a care home or assisted living facility. Understanding what residential care is and what it includes can help you find a facility that provides appropriate services to meet your needs.
Residential Care Meaning
Residential care plays an important role in providing a high quality of life to individuals who are unable to live independently. It is a type of facility that encompasses a range of services that primarily focus on personal care. Residential care does not include skilled nursing services.
At Westbrook Care Center, the term “residential care” refers to a homelike, staff-supported living option designed specifically for older adults who need help with daily tasks but do not require full-time nursing care.
According to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, residential care can occur in different settings, including small group homes and large facilities.
Anyone of any age may need and receive residential care. For example, children and adults with developmental disabilities frequently live in group care homes. Facilities often serve a specific segment of the population, such as children, teens, or older adults. However, that is not always the case.
Like other forms of assisted living, individual states regulate residential care facilities. Licensing and inspections ensure that essential health and safety measures are in place.
Types of Residential Care
You may encounter several types of residential care. Understanding the differences between types of residential care can help you choose a long-term care solution that meets your current and future needs.
When assisted living occurs in a home-like setting, it is considered residential care. This can be apartments, attached homes, or single-family homes. Residents in residential care have private spaces that provide a certain level of independence. However, caregivers assist with ADLs, schedule activities, and may provide transportation.
Group homes are another type of residential care. These are standard single-family homes that are frequently found within residential neighborhoods. Residents get help with ADLs while contributing to the minor tasks of running the house.
Special group homes for seniors exist for those who need some help and want to stay in a residential setting. It is typically much more affordable than having in-home care. Other group homes cater to individuals with developmental or physical disabilities and mental illness.
Nursing Home vs. Residential Care
Both nursing homes and residential care facilities provide essential services to residents. They have some similarities, but they are not the same. In fact, there are several significant differences between them.
Similarities
Both nursing homes and residential care centers accommodate people of all ages who need the provided services. Those services include assistance with ADLs in both settings. Nursing homes and residential care facilities also face licensing requirements and inspections from regulatory agencies.
Differences
Several differences exist between nursing homes and residential care facilities. The most important is the level of services residents can expect to receive.
Nursing homes provide skilled nursing for patients who need it. This may include changing wound dressings, monitoring vital signs, and administering medications, including IV and injection. Residents have access to around-the-clock medical care and medical equipment.
Residential care facilities generally only assist with ADLs. They may also provide minimal medication assistance and access to physical, occupational, and other supplemental therapies. While residential care facilities can support basic medical needs, they don’t offer the 24/7 clinical supervision that nursing homes provide.
Another difference is that nursing homes are regulated at the federal level in addition to being under state oversight. Finally, nursing homes are often large facilities that resemble hospitals, whereas residential care facilities can be much smaller and are more home-like.
Residential Care and Assisted Living
Residential care is a form of assisted living that provides long-term care for individuals who need help with ADLs. Residential care, by definition, will include assistance, so it is always considered assisted living. However, not all assisted living is residential care. Some facilities offer services in a more clinical setting.
It is also helpful to remember that not all residential-style senior care options offer assistance. Some are for independent older adults who want to live among other people of a similar age. For example, the Westbrook Care Center provides senior living near Kansas City, MO, including assisted and independent living in a residential setting.
Residential Care vs. Independent Living
There are significant differences between residential care and independent living. Residential care is designed for individuals who cannot live independently and need caregivers to assist with ADLs. Generally, to qualify for independent living, you must be able to perform ADLs on your own.
On the other hand, both provide care in home-like settings. They may also include structured activities and transportation.
Benefits of Choosing a Residential Care Facility
For some people, residential senior living offers many benefits. One of the most obvious is the home-like setting. Residents retain a significant amount of privacy with their own space, helping promote comfort and dignity.
At the same time, they receive the help needed to live a healthy, safe, and balanced life. Assistance may include:
- Assistance with grooming, dressing, and toileting
- Housekeeping services
- Medication reminders
- Physical and occupation therapy
- Transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and local attractions
These services provide a wealth of benefits for residents. They help ensure safety and health, particularly for people who may not otherwise eat properly or who could wander off without supervision. They also promote social engagement, which staves off loneliness and its associated health consequences.
For these reasons, older adults who want companionship, an active lifestyle, and assistance with ADLs will likely benefit from residential care. It allows them to safely maintain a certain level of independence, which provides a feeling of control over their lives and outcomes.
Experience What Compassionate Residential Care Is at Westbrook Care Center
The staff at Westbrook Care Center provides compassionate care for our residents. We have residential care options for older adults in Kearney. Contact us to speak to a knowledgeable staff member who can explain what residential care is and the services it includes. Schedule a tour today.