Comparing Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living: Understanding the Key Differences

Libby Hastings • April 19, 2024

When considering long-term care options for yourself or a loved one, it's essential to understand the differences between nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. While both offer supportive environments for individuals needing assistance with daily activities, they serve distinct purposes and cater to varying levels of care needs. Let's delve into the comparative aspects of these two types of facilities to help you make an informed decision.

Medical Services:


Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities primarily focus on providing assistance with daily activities while offering varying levels of medical attention. Residents may receive support such as transportation to medical appointments and assistance with medication management. Additionally, specialized care areas may be available for individuals with conditions like dementia. Assisted living facilities are not regulated by the federal government but, in Kansas, are licensed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.
Nursing Home: In contrast, nursing homes, also known as skilled nursing facilities, offer round-the-clock, 24-hour medical care, typically with more staff than an assisted living facility. A nursing home setting may be appropriate for individuals who need extended post-operative care, complex medical monitoring, nursing, medical, social, and rehabilitative care. Moreover, nursing homes provide rehabilitative services such as physical, occupational, respiratory, and speech therapy for residents in need. Nursing homes are subject to more government oversight by both the state and federal governments.


Living Space:


Assisted Living: Residents of assisted living facilities typically reside in individual or shared apartments equipped with kitchenettes, bedrooms, and living areas. Common spaces encourage social interaction and participation in communal activities, including dining areas, activity rooms, salons, and gardens or outdoor walkways . There may be accommodations for pets.
Nursing Home: Nursing homes typically provide individual or shared (semi-private) rooms with en-suite bathrooms. While the living arrangements may be more compact, residents still have access to common areas for meals and activities.


Assistance with Daily Activities:


Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer light support with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation, tailored to the residents' needs. Laundry, housekeeping, and meal services are also available.
Nursing Home: Residents of nursing homes often require more extensive assistance with daily activities. Staff members should assist with personal care tasks, medication management, meal preparation, and housekeeping.


Recreational Activities:


Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities prioritize providing a wide range of activities to promote physical and social engagement among residents. From exercise programs to creative expression and volunteering opportunities, these facilities foster a vibrant community atmosphere.
Nursing Home: While recreational activities are also offered in nursing homes, they may be more limited in scope. However, supervised exercise sessions and various enrichment activities contribute to residents' overall well-being.


Meals:


Assisted Living: Residents in assisted living facilities may have the option to cook in their own kitchenettes or dine in communal dining rooms. Meal delivery services may also be available for added convenience and may require an additional cost.
Nursing Home: In nursing homes, dieticians prepare meals for residents, considering their dietary preferences and restrictions. Residents can choose to dine in communal spaces or have meals served in their rooms.


Cost and Insurance Coverage:


In 2023, the average cost for a semi-private nursing facility room in Kansas was $7,483. For an assisted living room, the median cost was $5,850.

Nursing home care tends to be more expensive than assisted living, with costs varying based on factors like location and level of care required. Medicare may cover some expenses for nursing home care (up to 100 days) under certain conditions, whereas assisted living is typically not covered by Medicare. Because Medicaid is a joint federal and state public health insurance program administered by individual states, coverage for assisted living services varies. Medicaid is available for those who need nursing home care but can't afford it or have a restricted income. Medicaid will pay for nursing home care for persons who require that level of care and meet the program's financial eligibility requirements. A person can have no more than $2,000 of "countable" assets in Kansas to qualify for Medicaid. 


Overall, understanding the distinctions between nursing facilities and assisted living facilities is crucial for selecting the most suitable option based on individual needs and preferences. Whether prioritizing medical care, independence, social engagement, or cost, there's a long-term care solution tailored to meet diverse needs. It's advisable to explore available resources, consult with healthcare professionals and KABC, and carefully evaluate each facility's offerings before deciding. KABC is here to help! We offer free Consumer Information Reports on all licensed adult care facilities to help you make an informed decision.

Two women sitting together

PEAK Program in Kansas

By Libby Hastings • October 30, 2025
This is a special blog post provided by Jami Boone, Adult Care Homes Quality Program Manager, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Moving into a nursing home is often seen as a loss—the loss of independence, familiar routines, and personal choice. But in Kansas, the PEAK program is changing that story. Through this pay-for-performance initiative, administered by Kansas State University and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), nursing homes are putting residents at the center of every decision and creating communities where people feel truly at home. PEAK encourages nursing homes to adopt person-directed care, giving residents control over their daily lives. Participating homes can earn financial incentives—ranging from $0.50 to $3.00 per bed, per day—based on how deeply they implement these practices. But the true value of PEAK isn’t in the funding—it’s in transforming life inside the home, fostering dignity, choice, and joy for residents. Imagine moving into a new home where you can bring your favorite bedding, chair, and treasured belongings. You don’t have to give up who you are or what you love. Instead, you gain new opportunities, new friendships, and new family connections, along with access to activities you may have thought were out of reach. At the same time, you maintain your existing community roles, personal routines, and comforts, blending familiarity with new possibilities. Residents in PEAK homes have the freedom to decide how their living space looks and feels, what, where, and when they eat, when they wake up or go to bed, and even which risks they are willing to take. That sense of control and individuality is central to maintaining dignity, identity, and joy, making daily life meaningful and fulfilling. The benefits extend beyond residents. When staff are empowered to build deep, personal relationships with residents, they stop seeing their work as a job and start seeing it as an extension of home. Staff get to know the people they care for so well that they notice even the smallest changes—whether it’s a favorite meal left untouched or a subtle shift in mood. This heightened awareness allows potential issues to be addressed sooner, improving healing and raising the overall level of care. The bonds between staff and residents not only create a more home-like environment but also foster staff satisfaction, because when work feels like home, people show up fully, care deeply, and make every interaction meaningful. This mutual respect and compassion ripple outward, creating an atmosphere that families can feel the moment they walk through the door. PEAK homes offer families additional peace of mind, ensuring that when a loved one moves into care, they enter a place that honors their individuality, values their voice, and supports their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Kansas continues to lead by example, showing that when dignity and choice are prioritized, everyone benefits. PEAK homes aren’t just places to live—they’re places to thrive. To find a PEAK participating nursing home in your area, visit: https://www.kdads.ks.gov/partners-providers/nursing-facilities-adult-care-home-program/peak-person-centered-care . For more information about the PEAK program, contact Jami Boone , Adult Care Homes Quality Program Manager, KDADS, at jami.boone@ks.gov or 785-296-0010 . Note from KABC : While KABC supports efforts that aim to improve quality of life and person-centered care in Kansas nursing homes, participation in the PEAK program does not necessarily indicate that a facility is consistently meeting those standards in practice. Financial incentives or program participation alone do not guarantee that residents are receiving the care, dignity, and respect they deserve. KABC encourages families and residents to review a variety of quality measures—including inspection reports, staffing levels, and complaint histories—when evaluating long-term care options.
Dan Goodman testifies before legislative committee

KABC Testifies Before Bethell Committee

By Libby Hastings • October 16, 2025
On Monday, October 13th, Dan Goodman, Executive Director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC), delivered testimony before the Robert G. Bethell Joint Committee on Home & Community Based Services & KanCare Oversight. His remarks focused on the urgent need to strengthen Kansas’ long-term care system through sustainable funding and workforce investments. Goodman urged legislators to provide additional funding for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Frail Elderly waiver , noting projected shortfalls of $27 million in FY26 and $70 million in FY27. Without intervention, hundreds of older Kansans could face placement on a waitlist as early as this fall—delaying access to critical in-home services and increasing the risk of premature institutionalization. He also highlighted the need to support and stabilize the state’s long-term care workforce by exploring innovative approaches used in other states. For example, New Mexico’s Competitive Pay for Professionals program has helped attract and retain workers by linking higher wages to improved reimbursement rates and accountability measures. Goodman suggested Kansas consider similar models to strengthen its caregiving workforce and ensure providers can offer competitive pay. KABC remains committed to advocating for policies that promote quality care, protect older adults, and sustain a strong, well-supported caregiving system across Kansas. Read KABC’s full testimony here: View Testimony (PDF) Watch a full recording of the committee here: YouTube Link