Types of Facilities & Care
Learn about available types of care and learn about what’s right for your needs today.
Types of Facilities and Care
There are so many things to consider as you look at the right facilities for these next phases of life. We’ve tried to compile the questions we hear the most and give you easy access to many resources here as you get time to review and consider them.Â
We are certain you have many questions and concerns pertaining to your own, individual situation and we would love to offer you an over-the-phone or in-person tour and conversation to help you feel at ease with the many details involved in taking this next step.Â
Please contact us anytime to schedule your tour and consultation:
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Long-Term
Skilled Nursing
Rehabilitation
Home Health
Hospice
Primary Focus
Support for daily activities while promoting independence
Specialized dementia /Alzheimer’s support
24/7 medical and personal care for chronic needs
Short-term recovery, physical /occupational therapy
Intermittent skilled care in your own home
Comfort & quality of life at end-of-life
Typical Residents
Seniors needing help with ADLs but mostly independent
Individuals with memory loss, cognitive impairment
Seniors with chronic illnesses or high medical needs
Post-hospital, surgery, injury, or acute illness
Anyone recovering or managing conditions at home
Terminal illness (typically ≤6 months prognosis)
Level of Medical Care
Minimal (medication management, basic monitoring)
Low to moderate, plus cognitive therapies
High (wound care, IVs, constant monitoring)
High, therapy-focused
Skilled nursing & therapy visits
Symptom/pain management only (no curative treatment)
Assistance w/ ADLs
Yes (bathing, dressing, meals, etc.)
Yes, with dementia-specific approaches
Comprehensive
As needed during recovery
Limited (aides usually come a few times/week)
Yes, for comfort and dignity
Supervision
24/7 staff, but not intensive
24/7 secure supervision
24/7 nursing care
24/7 during stay
Visits only – no 24/7 on-site care
24/7 on-call support + regular visits
Environment
Home-like, apartment-style, social activities
Secure, structured, specialized activities
Clinical setting
Clinical with rehab gym/equipment
Patient’s own home
Home, assisted living, or dedicated hospice house
Duration
Long-term
Long-term
Long-term
Short-term (days to months)
Short-term (days to 3–6 months)
As long as needed (weeks to years)
Staffing
Care aides, activity staff
Specially trained staff for dementia
RNs, LPNs, CNAs, therapists
Physical / OT / Speech therapists, nurses
Physical / Occupational / Speech therapists + nurses
Nurses, therapists, home health aides (visiting)
Memory Care
MEMORY CARE FACILITY
A memory care facility is best-suited for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other forms of significant memory loss and cognitive impairment. Residents typically need specialized support because they may wander, become confused, have difficulty with daily tasks, or exhibit behavioral changes that make independent or even assisted living unsafe. These facilities provide a secure, structured environment with 24-hour supervision, specially trained staff, memory-enhancing activities, and safety features designed to reduce confusion and prevent elopement.
Rehabilitation with Skilled Nursing
Home Health & Hospice
Long Term Care
Short-Term Care
ASSISTED LIVING CENTER
An assisted living center is best-suited for older adults who are generally independent but need some help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, medication management, or meal preparation. Residents are typically seniors who can no longer safely live alone due to mild to moderate physical limitations, memory issues, or chronic health conditions, yet they do not require the intensive 24-hour medical care provided in a nursing home. It offers a supportive environment with personal care assistance, social activities, and safety features, allowing residents to maintain as much autonomy and quality of life as possible while receiving the extra support they need.
CONTRAST & COMPARE
- Level of Care: Assisted living supports people who need help with daily activities but are still mostly independent and cognitively intact. Memory care is designed for those with moderate to advanced dementia who require much higher levels of supervision and specialized cognitive support.
- Safety Focus: Memory care units are secure (often locked) to prevent wandering, while assisted living is usually more open.
- Staff Training: Memory care staff receive specific training in dementia care, communication techniques, and managing challenging behaviors. Assisted living staff focus more on general personal care and companionship.
- Environment & Activities: Memory care uses simplified routines, sensory-based activities, and calm, color-coded or cue-rich designs to reduce anxiety. Assisted living offers broader social, recreational, and wellness programs for more independent seniors.
- Cost: Memory care is typically more expensive due to the higher staffing ratios and specialized programming.
In short: Assisted living helps with physical needs while promoting independence. Memory care provides intensive, specialized support for significant memory and cognitive decline.
| Care Option | Short Description |
|---|---|
| Assisted Living Center | Residential community offering private or semi-private apartments with help for daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders). Promotes independence in a social, home-like setting for seniors who need support but not constant medical care. |
| Memory Care / Dementia Care | Specialized residential care for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Provides secure, structured environments with trained staff, cognitive activities, and safety features to manage memory loss, confusion, and wandering. |
| Long-Term Skilled Nursing | 24/7 nursing facility for residents with significant medical needs requiring ongoing skilled care (e.g., complex wound care, IV medications, ventilator support). Offers medical monitoring and rehabilitation services for those who cannot live independently. |
| Rehabilitation Center | Short-term stay focused on recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. Provides intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy with nursing support to help patients regain strength and return home. |
| Home Health | Professional medical and therapeutic services (nursing, therapy, aide assistance) delivered in the patient’s own home. Ideal for those recovering from illness or managing chronic conditions while remaining at home. |
| Hospice Care | Comfort-focused care for individuals with life-limiting illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less. Emphasizes pain relief, quality of life, emotional/spiritual support, and family assistance—provided at home, in a facility, or inpatient hospice. |
| Adult Day Care | Daytime program where seniors attend structured activities, meals, and social engagement in a supervised group setting. Allows caregivers respite while providing stimulation and monitoring; participants return home each evening. |
| In-Home Care Visits | Flexible, non-medical or lightly medical support (companionship, light housekeeping, meal prep, personal care) provided by caregivers who visit the home on a scheduled basis. Supports aging in place with customizable hours. |
| Care Option | Short Description |
|---|---|
| Assisted Living Center | Residential community providing help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, medications) in a social, apartment-style setting for seniors who need support but not full-time nursing. |
| Memory Care / Dementia Care | Secure, specialized residential care for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Features trained staff, safety measures, and structured activities to support memory loss. |
| Long-Term Skilled Nursing | 24/7 nursing facility offering continuous medical care, monitoring, and skilled services for residents with complex, ongoing health needs. |
| Rehabilitation Center | Short-term facility focused on intensive therapy (physical, occupational, speech) after surgery, injury, or illness to help patients regain strength and return home. |
| Home Health | Medical services (nursing, therapy, aides) delivered directly in the patient’s home for recovery or chronic condition management. |
| Hospice Care | Comfort-focused end-of-life care for those with a life-limiting illness (typically 6 months or less), emphasizing pain relief and quality of life. |
| Adult Day Care | Supervised daytime program with meals, activities, and social engagement. Provides caregiver respite while participants return home each evening. |
| In-Home Care Visits | Scheduled visits by caregivers for personal care, companionship, meal prep, and light housekeeping to support living at home. |
| Care Option | Short Description | Typical Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living Center | Residential community providing help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, medications) in a social, apartment-style setting. | Long-term (months to years) |
| Memory Care / Dementia Care | Secure, specialized residential care for Alzheimer’s and dementia with trained staff and safety features. | Long-term (months to years) |
| Long-Term Skilled Nursing | 24/7 nursing facility offering continuous medical care and monitoring for complex health needs. | Long-term (months to years, often permanent) |
| Rehabilitation Center | Short-term facility focused on intensive therapy after surgery, injury, or illness. | Short-term (days to weeks, typically 2–12 weeks) |
| Home Health | Medical services (nursing, therapy, aides) delivered in the patient’s home. | Short to medium-term (weeks to months) |
| Hospice Care | Comfort-focused end-of-life care emphasizing pain relief and quality of life. | Typically 6 months or less (can be renewed) |
| Adult Day Care | Supervised daytime program with meals, activities, and social engagement. | Daytime only (ongoing as needed) |
| In-Home Care Visits | Scheduled caregiver visits for personal care, companionship, and light housekeeping. | Flexible / ongoing (hours per week as needed) |
Assisted Living Community
Residential community providing help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, medications) in a social, apartment-style setting.
Typical Duration of Stay
Long-term (months to years)
Memory | Dementia Care
Secure, specialized residential care for Alzheimer’s and dementia with trained staff and safety features.
Typical Duration of Stay
Long-term (months to years)
Long-Term Skilled Nursing
24/7 nursing facility offering continuous medical care and monitoring for complex health needs.
Typical Duration of Stay
Long-term (months to years, often permanent)
Rehabilitation Care
Short-term facility focused on intensive therapy after surgery, injury, or illness.
Typical Duration of Stay
Short-term (days to weeks, typically 2–12 weeks)
Home Health Care
Medical services (nursing, therapy, aides) delivered in the patient’s home.
Typical Duration of Stay
Short to medium-term (weeks to months)
ADD TRUE NORTH INFO
Hospice Care
Comfort-focused end-of-life care emphasizing pain relief and quality of life. Can take place at home or in-facility.
Typical Duration of Stay
Typically 6 months or less (can be renewed)
Adult Day Care
Supervised daytime program with meals, activities, and social engagement.
Typical Duration of Stay
Daytime only (ongoing as needed)
In-Home Care Visits
Scheduled caregiver visits for personal care, companionship, and light housekeeping.
Typical Duration of Stay
Flexible / ongoing (hours per week as needed)