Finding the right care for yourself or a loved one can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating the many options along the healthcare continuum. From assisted living (AL) communities to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), home- and community-based services, and hospice care, each setting offers unique levels of support. Understanding these differences is essential to making informed decisions that meet both current and future needs.
Assisted Living (AL)
- Definition: Residential setting for older adults who need help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders) but do not require 24/7 medical or nursing care.
- Environment: Apartment-style or private rooms, community dining, activities.
- Key Difference: Focuses on personal care and independence, not skilled nursing or medical care.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)/Nursing Home
- Definition: Licensed facility providing 24/7 medical care and rehabilitation under supervision of registered nurses, often with physician oversight.
- Services: IV therapy, wound care, rehabilitation (PT, OT, speech), complex medication management.
- Key Difference: Highest level of medical care outside a hospital. Residents are often frailer or recovering from hospital stay.
Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)/Life Plan Community
- Definition: A single campus offering multiple levels of care — usually independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing — so residents can “age in place” without moving to a new provider.
- Structure: Residents typically enter at the independent living level and transition to higher care as needs change.
- Key Difference: Offers a continuum of services under one organizational umbrella.
Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
- Definition: Care provided in an individual’s home or community rather than an institutional setting.
- Examples: Home health nursing, personal care aides, adult day programs, transportation, respite care.
- Key Difference: Goal is to help people remain at home safely and avoid or delay institutional care.
Hospice
- Definition: Specialized care for people with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than curing illness.
- Services: Pain management, emotional/spiritual support, family counseling, home visits from nurses and aides.
- Key Difference: End-of-life care with focus on comfort, not treatment.
Palliative Care (closely related but distinct from hospice)
- Definition: Medical care focused on relief of symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness, at any stage of disease.
- Setting: Can be provided alongside curative treatments, in hospitals, homes, or facilities.
- Key Difference: Unlike hospice, palliative care is not limited to end-of-life.
Baltimore
- A Caring Hand Medical Adult Daycare, Inc
- Another Caring Hand MADC
- Atlas - Roland Park Rehab and Healthcare Center
- Atlas - Rossville Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at Alice Manor
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at Overlea
- Autumn Lake Healthcare Post Acute Care Center
- Charter Senior Living Towson
- Engage - Carroll Park Healthcare
- FutureCare - Good Samaritan
- FutureCare Charles Village, LLC
- FutureCare Coldspring (Harford Road)
- FutureCare Homewood
- FutureCare Irvington
- FutureCare Lochearn
- FutureCare NorthPoint
- FutureCare Sandtown-Winchester
- Genesis - Franklin Woods Center
- Hopkins ElderPlus/PACE Program
- Humble Hearts Assisted Living
- Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital
- Marquis - Westgate Hills Rehab
- Medical Facilities of America - Stadium Place Nursing and Rehab
- Springwell Senior Living Community
- The League for People with Disabilities, Inc.
- Transitional Care Services at Mercy Medical
- Vierra - St. Elizabeth's Rehab & Nursing Center
Bethesda
- Artis Senior Living of Potomac
- Assisting Hands Home Care of Potomac
- Auxiliary House - Cedar Creek Memory Care
- Brightview Bethesda Grosvenor, LLC
- Hillwood Group Home
- Marquis - Terraces at Tuckerman Lane
- Modena Reserve Bethesda
- Sterling Care Bethesda
- Sunrise - Maplewood Park Place 60029
- Sunrise at Fox Hill 65010
- Sunrise of Bethesda RC60084
- Vierra - Carriage Hill Bethesda Health & Rehab
Frederick
- Autumn Lake at Braddock Heights
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at Ballenger Creek
- Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center - Frederick
- Country Meadows Retirement Communities
- Discovery - Heartfields Assisted Living of Frederick
- Homewood Living Frederick, Inc.
- Silverado Frederick
- Somerford Place - Frederick
- Sunrise Assisted Living of Frederick 63056
- Village Crossing at Wormans Mill
Rockville
- Arbor Place
- Brightview Fallsgrove
- Brightview West End
- Cedar Glen
- Charles E. Smith Life Communities/Hebrew Home of Greater Washington
- Maple Ridge
- Marquis - Collingswood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
- Medical Facilities of America - Potomac Valley Nursing & Wellness Center
- Medical Facilities of America - Shady Grove Center
- Raphael House East & West
- Sterling Care Rockville Nursing
- Sunrise of Rockville 63046
- The Preston of Rockville
Silver Spring
- Althea Woodland Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Aspenwood Senior Living
- Autumn Lake at Silver Spring
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at Arcola
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at Oakview
- Clifton Woods
- Complete Care at Wheaton
- Complete Care of Springbrook
- Engage - Fox Chase Healthcare
- Family & Nursing Care, Inc.
- Genesis - Fairland Center
- Grace House
- Medical Facilities of America- Layhill Center
- Riderwood Village
- Sunrise - Bedford Court 60019
- Sunrise of Chevy Chase RC60085
- Sunrise of Silver Spring 63227