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A Gift Of Time, LLC
Senior Move Managers — Serving Milwaukee & Southeastern Wisconsin for 30 Years
agiftoftime.net · (414) 510-9695 · info@agiftoftime.net · Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Senior Living Options Guide
What each setting is for, and how to tell them apart
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The words sound interchangeable and they are not. What a family needs is usually one specific level of care plus a location — everything else is preference. This sheet lays out the settings in order of the support they provide.
Independent living
- Best for: active adults who want less house and more help with maintenance.
- Usually includes: apartment or cottage, meals, housekeeping, activities.
- Care provided: none. This is a convenience choice, not a care choice.
- Watch for: a la carte fees, waitlists, and a broad range of resident ages.
Assisted living
- Best for: people who need daily help with bathing, dressing, medications, or meals.
- Usually includes: apartment, meals, 24-hour staff, care tier, scheduled activities.
- Care provided: personal care and medication management, not nursing care.
- Watch for: care add-on tiers, staffing at night, and what happens as needs increase.
Memory care
- Best for: dementia and Alzheimer's diagnoses, wandering, or unsafe decisions.
- Usually includes: secured setting, specialized staff training, structured routines.
- Care provided: personal care plus dementia-specific supervision and activities.
- Watch for: ratio on night shift, staff training, and how exits are secured.
Skilled nursing and continuing care
- Best for: medical and rehabilitation needs requiring licensed nursing.
- Usually includes: 24-hour nursing, therapy, physician oversight.
- Care provided: clinical care, often following a hospital stay.
- Watch for: quality ratings, therapy minutes, and discharge planning.
- Continuing care communities combine several levels so a move may not be needed again.
Ask on every tour
- What level of care is licensed here, and what is not?
- Who assesses my parent, and how often is that reviewed?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio by shift?
- What happens if needs increase beyond this setting?
- What are the total costs for year one, including add-ons?
General information only — not medical or financial advice.
More detail online: agiftoftime.net/resources/senior-living-options
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General information only — not medical advice · Confirm care needs with a physician and costs with each community · agiftoftime.net
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