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Assisted living or a nursing home? A plain guide for families

When a parent can't live alone anymore, the first question is usually what kind of place they need. In Florida the two most common choices are an assisted living facility, called an ALF, and a nursing home. They are licensed differently and they do different things.

Assisted living (ALF)

An ALF gives a home, meals and help with daily life: bathing, dressing, grooming, getting around, and help with medications. It is for people who need help and supervision but do not need a nurse at the bedside all day. ALFs range from large buildings with a hundred apartments to small homes like ours with six beds.

Nursing home

A nursing home gives skilled nursing care, with licensed nurses on duty around the clock. It is for people who need medical care every day, for example after a serious hospital stay or when a condition needs constant nursing.

How to tell which one fits

• Does your loved one need help with daily care, or with medical treatment every day?
• Can they take medications with help, or do they need a nurse to give injections or manage equipment?
• What does their doctor recommend after examining them?

In Florida, before moving into an ALF, a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner examines your loved one and fills out a health assessment, usually AHCA Form 1823. That exam helps everyone see whether assisted living is the right level of care. Read our guide to Form 1823.

If your loved one needs more than an ALF can give, a good ALF will tell you. We would rather help you find the right place than take someone we can't care for well.

Good to know

Does Medicare pay for assisted living?

Medicare does not pay for room, board or daily care in assisted living. Some long-term care insurance does, and Florida's Medicaid long-term care program can help people who qualify at homes that accept it. Ask each home what they accept.

Can hospice or home health come to an ALF?

Yes. In Florida, home health and hospice can visit residents in an ALF when a doctor orders them.