In the state of Georgia, there are some important distinctions between personal care vs. assisted living. These two care options are similar in many ways but they do offer varying levels of care. When families are searching for senior care options, it’s important to understand these differences. By choosing the right level of care, families ensure their loved ones will receive the support they need.
Assisted living and personal care homes are both wonderful options for aging adults. Both programs provide a safe and comfortable home environment while meeting each resident’s unique needs. At Riverwood Senior Living, we specialize in helping families choose the best level of care for their loved ones. We’ll explain the differences between personal care and assisted living in this blog so you can make the right choice for your family.
Personal Care Helps Maintain Independence
A personal care home is a residential senior living facility that provides assistance with “activities of daily living,” or ADLs. In the state of Georgia, ADLs are defined as:
- Eating
- Bathing
- Grooming
- Toileting
- Mobility and Transferring
Medical staff in personal care homes assist residents who need help with specific daily activities in order to maintain their independence. This can include cleaning, getting dressed, cooking, shopping, and more. The key difference between personal care vs. assisted living lies in medication administration. In personal care homes, staff supervise or assist residents in self-administering medications. They keep track of medications and can remind residents when it’s time to take them.
At Riverwood Senior Living, we support our residents in the Personal Care program by offering activities and events that help maintain their lifestyles. These include social events, like group activities or field trips, exercise classes, spiritual services, and more. Our community also offers amenities to personal care residents. We have an excelling dining service, outdoor recreation areas, a beauty and barber shop, and more.
As we age, remaining independent and maintaining our social lives become extremely important. Personal care homes provide a rich social community for aging adults while providing essential care when needed.
Assisted Living Provides More Support
An assisted living home is a residential senior living facility that provides assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and the administration of medications. This is a key difference between personal care vs. assisted living. Certified medication aides in assisted living homes administer medication to residents. This means that staff actually administer medications to residents to ensure they never miss a dose.
While personal care does assist with certain daily tasks, it is typically a transitional program. Most seniors in personal care homes will eventually require more daily support, and this is what assisted living is for. In assisted living, medical staff provide comprehensive care to residents that extends past ADLs. In addition to managing medications, assisted living staff can assist with more specialized medical care than personal care staff.
Although assisted living offers more support than personal care, assisted living homes still encourage residents to maintain their independence. At Riverwood Senior Living, residents in our assisted living and memory care programs can participate in activities, events, exercise classes, and more to remain social and healthy.
The goal of assisted living is to provide a home environment where seniors can receive the support they need while enjoying their lives as they please. We prioritize physical, mental, and spiritual health at Riverwood through our full activity schedule and amenities.
Riverwood Can Help You Choose the Best Level of Care for Your Loved One
At Riverwood Senior Living, we strive to provide our residents and their families with exceptional care and service. This includes assisting families in making the right care choices for their loved ones. If you still have questions regarding the different levels of retirement care in the state of Georgia, we are here to help.
Please contact us today if you have any questions about personal care vs. assisted living in the state of Georgia. Our staff will be happy to help you, and we can help guide you through the decision-making process. Ensuring your loved one receives the care and support they need is so important, and Riverwood is here to make sure they feel at home.