Assisted living centers can often make a good transitional home for elders who no longer feel safe in their own homes, or who are so isolated at home that they are in danger of depression and other health issues.

Alzheimer's organizations consider socialization one form of possible protection against the disease. Since many elders find that their neighborhoods change over time, plus many of their friends are ill or have died, a gradual isolation can overtake them without their even being aware of it.

When that happens, adult children often step in and make an effort to convince their parents to move to an assisted living center. Many elders thrive in these centers if the center is well run. However, a time comes for some elders when the services that assisted living centers offer aren't enough. Then another move, this time to a nursing home, if generally considered.

When Is a Move to a Nursing Home Indicated?

Most assisted living centers do not offer medical care. Many offer memory units, but even then, skilled nursing is rarely part of the service. Some centers contract with a home health agency that has a nurse and can dispense medication, though this service generally has an added fee. Others may offer some nursing care for extra cost, but it's rarely enough for those who need around the clock medical care.

If your elders need constant medical monitoring, then they may need to make the transition to a nursing home. Also, few assisted living centers, at this time, accept Medicaid rates, so if your elders funds have bottomed out and they are on Medicaid, the assisted living center may no longer accept them and a nursing could be their only option.

How Should the Elder Prepare for a Move From Assisted Living to a Nursing Home?

The move from assisted living to a nursing home can be traumatic for an elder - or not. Much depends on the quality of each home. If the assisted living center is very good, and a person moves to a poor nursing home, the change could be drastic. While there would be more medical care in the nursing home, the home may seem more hospital like and less like a retirement center.

However, if your elder moves into a person-centered nursing home, the difference in atmosphere between assisted living and this home may be nearly imperceptible, other than there will be more hands-on medical care. Certified Nursing Assistants will be more abundant in a good nursing home and nurses will be on all floors. Visits form a physician's assistant should be at least a weekly occurrence, and a physician visit should happen monthly.

One of the most noticeable changes for someone who transitions to a nursing home would be if the person went from private pay and a private room in assisted living to a Medicaid bed in a nursing home. Medicaid will rarely pay for a private room, so that means a roommate would be in your elder's future. You'll have to prepare your elder for this room sharing, which is not very often an easy transition.  You can help with this important change.