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For many caregivers, the time will come when they are no longer able to take care of their loved one at home. At this point the person with Alzheimer's will have to move to a place where care is available around the clock. There are two types of residential care: assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
Assisted living arrangements are available in large apartment or hotel-like buildings or can be set up as a "board and care" home for a small number of people. They offer different levels of care, but often include meals, recreation, security, and help with bathing, dressing, medication, and housekeeping.
Skilled nursing facilities -- or nursing homes -- provide 24-hour services and supervision. They provide medical care and rehabilitation for residents who are mostly very frail or suffer from the later stages of dementia.
Sometimes, health care providers offer different levels of care at one site. These "continuing care communities" often locate an assisted living facility next to a nursing home so that people can move from one type of care to another if necessary. Several offer programs for couples, trying to meet needs when one spouse is doing well but the other has become disabled.
Choosing a residential care facility -- a nursing home or an assisted living facility -- is a big decision, and it can be hard to know where to start.
It's helpful to gather information about services and options before the need actually arises. This gives you time to explore fully all the possibilities before making a decision. The Administration on Aging, or AOA, has a toll-free number for its Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116.
Determine what facilities are in your area. Doctors, friends, relatives, hospital social workers, and religious organizations may be able to help you identify specific facilities.
