When Dan and his wife, Erin*, realized they needed to consider supervised care for his father, Gene, who was showing signs of memory loss and reduced mobility, they weren't sure where to begin. Searching online, they found plenty of senior living options within a two-hour drive of their home, but they were overwhelmed by the information. In particular, they didn't fully understand the differences between nursing home care and assisted living.

Dan and Erin are not alone in their confusion. Different terms are often used to describe residential care settings for older adults, and the terminology can vary by location and provider. For example, nursing homes may also be referred to as long-term care facilities or skilled nursing facilities, although these terms can describe different services and levels of care.

Two common residential care options for older adults are: