Living Environment
In an board & care home, you live in a facility with several floors, long hallways, elevators, large public areas, and approximately 100 residents. Sometimes you have a fitness center and a beauty salon with an outdoor space. Bedroom size typically is anywhere from 200 – 500 sf and includes a private bathroom. Additionally, the facility provides transportation to and from doctors’ appointments.
A home environment is more intimate and relaxing than an board & care facility. In an assisted living home for seniors, such as Villa Living in Rancho Cucamonga, you live in a comfortable home with only 6 residents located in an exclusive residential neighborhood. The walk to the dining room is short, and fitness is personalized to each residents needs and provided in the form of activities. Transportation is coordinated thru an outside service for visits to doctor appointments and a hair stylist is brought to the home. Some of the bedrooms have a private bathroom. At Villa Living, 2 bedrooms have private bathrooms and the other 4 bedrooms only share a bathroom between 2 residents. And the residents enjoy the outdoor lawn areas available at the home.
Differences in Care
Assisted living facilities and board & care homes both help with daily living needs, but there are some differences to be aware of. Board & care facilities are corporations with expensive marketing budgets and layers of management. Typically, an board and care facility charges more for care than an assisted living home for seniors as its overhead is much greater. A senior assisted living home is normally a family owned business with less operating expenses which saves the resident money.
Another important difference to consider, depending on the needs of your mom or dad is that the resident to caregiver ratio in an board and care facility is approximately 14:1, while at an assisted living home for seniors it’s more often 3:1. This allows for a more personal level of care for the residents.
Senior assisted living homes along with board and care facilities both offer activities for their residents. While board and care homes offer a robust activity schedule to accommodate their many residents, senior assisted living facilities offers activities on a smaller scale, allowing the activities to be tailored to the residents’ needs and capabilities.
Meals and the dietary needs of your loved ones are important to consider when comparing assisted living facilities and board and care homes. Board and care homes cook for a hundred people which sometimes lacks in food quality and menu choices. At senior assisted living homes your loved ones enjoy “home cooked” meals tailored to their likes and dislikes.
It’s big differences like these that help improve the quality of care your family member will enjoy living in an assisted living home for seniors compared to a board and care facility. If you are interested in learning more about our senior assisted living care at Villa Living, please feel free to call us at 909-957-1378 or complete our online contact form.
