Nursing Home vs Assisted Living

Many people use the term nursing home to describe any care facility that serves an older population, but in point of fact, there is a vast difference between assisted living communities and nursing homes.

In general, the biggest difference is in the amount of care needed and provided on a day-to-day basis. Residents in an assisted living community generally live in an apartment or townhome, with common areas for dining and entertaining. Typically, staff stops in to help with chores like cleaning, laundry, and perhaps bathing and cooking. There also may be help managing medications or therapeutic care given.

In a nursing home, the resident lives in a room that tends to be more “institutional” looking — often with quick access to frequently needed care items; and there is much more frequent check-in by staff because the resident requires a higher level of care. It is much more like a hospital setting.

At Briarcliffe Manor, we take the guesswork out of the decision-making process. Our staff works with you or your loved one to determine what level of care is appropriate and then helps prepare the resident for the transition to our campus.

At our 30-acre, Johnston, Rhode Island, the location we have facilities to serve the full spectrum of resident needs, and we can offer the level of care required for any stage of life — maximizing the independence of each resident while providing the care they need. We also have the benefit of allowing residents to “age in place” – saving them the stress of being uprooted and moved to an unfamiliar setting as their needs change.

On the Briarcliffe grounds, we have a five-star, award-winning skilled nursing/rehabilitation center and two memory-care assisted living residences — and 40 years of experience helping residents get the most out of every stage of their lives.

This spring, we opened up the Preserve — a showcase-worthy, fully modern assisted living facility. It is a specially designed living area, where the care and compassion Briarcliffe is known for is blended with the modern elegance of sixty-six luxury private residences. Residents enjoy beautiful indoor and outdoor living spaces along with access to all our campus amenities, concierge, and personal care services. This creates an ideal lifestyle for those who are able to live independently with just a little help.

At the Preserve, as it is throughout our campus and care facilities, the goal is to give each resident the level of care needed while allowing for as much independence as possible. The peace of mind that comes from knowing that a dedicated team of professional caregivers and staff is interacting with residents and making sure their needs are met allows for confident living.

We also maintain our longstanding resident homes Briarcliffe Gardens and the Cottage Residence at Briarcliffe Gardens. These look and feel like two beautifully appointed homes — which they are — but they are also much more than this.

Because the needs of our residents are diverse and evolving over time, so are the services and care we provide. Some of our residents simply need to be in a safe, secure environment where medications are managed and administered, delicious and nutritious meals are prepared and served, and laundry and housekeeping services are provided. Others require reminders or assistance with personal care (including bathing, dressing and/or incontinence management). Some have more serious health conditions that require the skills of our Professional Nursing staff and Dietician.

When considering the need for assisted living — at whatever level of care that may entail — call on us at Briarcliffe. Our staff is ready to help guide you through the process of evaluating your needs and then explaining the options that exist. We are Rhode Island’s premier assisted living community, and we are here for you!