INDUSTRY INSIGHT
SENIOR LIVING
SPONSORED CONTENT
ASSISTED LIVING AND PERSONAL CARE
What does it mean for a person to live in a senior living community ? Well , it can look like many different things in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas . Senior living can be a 55 + apartment building or patio homes , or it can be an assisted living community that can provide 24-hour care for residents . But for the most part , senior living can fall in one of the following buckets : Continuing Care Retirement Communities ( CCRCs ), Independent Living , Assisted Living / Personal Care , Memory Care Communities , or Nursing Homes .
CCRCs are comprised of buildings or campuses that house a full continuum of care for residents . They have independent living all the way through personal care and skilled nursing centers . This can all be in one building , or spread across an entire campus of buildings . Some have larger buy-in options upon moving in , while others offer monthto-month rent .
Independent Living communities are for residents who can still maintain their daily care needs , but are looking for more hassle-free living . These offer an array of apartment styles , from studio apartments to two- and three-bedroom apartments with full kitchens . Most offer three meals a day with housekeeping services , activities , and transportation for convenience . Often the monthly cost is inclusive of all utilities such as water , heating / cooling , electricity , gas , and internet . Assisted Living and Personal Care communities are places where residents need more assistance with their personal care needs . Folks often ask what is the difference between assisted living and personal care . The short answer is not a whole lot . Most buildings in Pennsylvania are licensed as personal care . A small number are licensed as assisted living , although that terminology is used much more frequently . Assisted living communities are required to have a licensed nurse on staff , and offer a certain square footage of room with at least a small kitchenette and a private bathroom . Most personal care communities in the area offer those things as well , but are not required to by their state licensure .
Both assisted living and personal care communities are staffed around the clock and assist residents with as much or as little as they need . The staff can assist with bathing , dressing , toileting , transfers to and from a chair or bed , and medication management . The communities have activities for the residents as well as provide three meals a day with snacks as requested .
Memory Care communities are for residents who have a cognitive disorder diagnosis , most often associated with a form of dementia such as Alzheimer ’ s . These types of communities are for residents who may be at risk of leaving a building or environment and not knowing where they are , or for people who are unable to push a button for help because they may not remember that there is a button to push , or don ’ t realize they need assistance . These communities will assist with all daily care needs as well , and have activities for the residents to do on a daily basis to help live a dignified life .
These are just some brief descriptions of the different types of senior living communities in our area . To learn more , you can contact Oasis Senior Advisors of Southwest PA .
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