In the search for Assisted Living, many people do not know that there are several options available to them. In addition to the standard Assisted Living Communities, there is also an increasing amount of Board and Care Homes that provide many of the same services. There are several differences between the two. Board and Care Homes ( also known as residential care facilities), are licensed for anywhere between 3 and 6 beds and are located in residential neighborhoods. Many people enjoy the warmth and smaller feeling these homes afford. One of the real benefits for this particular setup is the client to caregiver ratio. It tends to be higher than that of your typical Assisted Living Community.
One thing that the Board and Care Homes don’t provide are some of the nicer amenities that come with the standard Assisted Living Communities. Entertainment, transportation and hair salons are just some of the perks that can be found at these communities. In terms of affordability, Board and Care Homes are usually a little less expensive than their bigger counterparts.
Both of these alternatives provide the same basic Assisted Living services – assistance with bathing, dressing and medication. They just provide them on different levels. Board and Care Homes provide these services in a smaller, cozier environment while your traditional Assisted Living Communities tend to do things on a grander scale. Different strokes for different folks.