Which type of care is right?
| Nursing home | Assisted living | Memory care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Licensed medical care around the clock, with nurses on staff 24 hours a day. | Housing plus help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medications. | Assisted living or nursing care designed for people living with dementia, usually in a secured area. |
| Usually right when | A person needs daily skilled nursing, is recovering after a hospital stay, or needs help with most daily activities. | A person is mostly independent but needs some daily help and supervision. | A person with dementia is at risk of wandering or needs specialized support and structure. |
| Who regulates it | Federal (CMS) and state inspections. Medicare star ratings are available. | The state licenses and inspects. Rules vary widely by state. No Medicare star ratings. | Varies: a nursing home unit (federal and state) or an assisted living unit (state only). |
| Who usually pays | Medicare (short-term rehab only, after a qualifying hospital stay), Medicaid if eligible, insurance, or private pay. | Mostly private pay or long-term care insurance. Some states offer Medicaid waiver programs. | Mostly private pay; some Medicaid coverage depending on state and setting. |
Prefer to answer a few questions? Try the guided care finder. You can find your Area Agency on Aging through the federal Eldercare Locator at eldercare.acl.gov or 1-800-677-1116.