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What Are Some of the Senior Housing Options

from: Kyle Besser

Senior housing options follow pretty much the same definitions in most states across the United States. The physical and emotional needs of individual senior citizens establish the level of care required to help a senior maintain as high a level of independent living as possible. The most popular of the different types of senior housing options relating to senior care housing usually include independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, residential care facilities, senior apartments and skilled nursing facilities. Below is a brief description of these different types of senior housing options:

Senior Apartments

Senior housing apartments usually rent only to persons over a certain age. In many cases, senior apartments have been equipped with amenities that benefit the elderly renters. Many senior apartments provide some services to specifically benefit the elderly renters. Some senior apartments even have facilities for senior health care.

Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living facilities is a term that actually refers to many different types of senior housing options. Assisted living facilities most frequently refers to a level of senior housing available for individuals who need to receive a minimum amount of services provided by the assisted living facility. Assisted living facilities are becoming increasingly popular as senior housing options as assisted living facilities offer seniors the opportunity to live at a relatively high level of independence but receive some senior health care as needed, such as medication and meal services.

Residential Care Facilities

Residential care facilities provide 24 hour senior care housing with protective oversight which may include the storage and distribution of medications during a short term illness or recuperation. Residential care facilities are designed for the semi-independent senior who is able to walk unassisted or with the help of a cane, walker or crutch.

Residential care facilities are often chosen when an individual needs additional senior care services, such as supervision of diets, assistance with personal care, housekeeping, and social and recreational programs. Residential care facilities may be needed during a short term illness or recuperation when supervision of care under the direction of a licensed physician is advisable.

Intermediate Care Facilities

Intermediate care facilities provide board, personal care, basic senior health care and nursing care services under the daily supervision of a licensed nurse and under the direction of a licensed physician. Residents of intermediate care facilities usually need help with the activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, eating, walking, administering medications and injections. Residents of intermediate care facilities may require dressing changes or catheter care. Skilled nursing care may be required intermittently, rather than daily. Skilled nursing facilities are for individuals needing 24 hour nursing care and rehabilitation.

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are usually the two levels of senior care housing that most people refer to as nursing homes. Skilled nursing care and treatment is performed or supervised by a nurse under the direction of a licensed physician or medical director. Residents of skilled nursing facilities require 24 hour care and observation and nursing functions that require specialized judgment and skill.

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Council grants permit to assisted living home

The Mesquite City Council voted 4-2, to approve a permit to allow a Mesquite assisted living facility to continue to operate in the 2600 block of Beeman Drive with eight occupants in a single family residence. Dissenting votes were cast by Mesquite mayor John Monaco and Councilman Brian Hutcheson.