Skip to main content

From the Neighborhood Press

A senior woman and her caregiver in assisted living sitting on the couch, clasping hands, and laughing together.

Assisted Living Levels of Care: What Are the Differences?

For many seniors, assisted living offers a way to preserve independence without compromising on quality of life. However, it’s important to note that senior living communities aren’t universal; every community is different and offers its own unique benefits. There are different levels of assisted living, each providing a different level of care.

At Sommerset Neighborhood, our assisted living program can be broken down into 4 levels:

  • Level 1: General Care
  • Level 2: Assistance Care
  • Level 3: Progressive Care
  • Level 4: Memory Care

So what are the differences?

Level 1: General Care

General care is the standardized form of assisted living in our community. This level focuses on providing your loved one with any necessary support to maintain a comfortable, safe, and independent lifestyle.

In general care, your loved one receives a customized care plan tailored to their unique capabilities and needs. There are plenty of benefits to general care, including:

  • Medication management
  • Housekeeping
  • Mobility support
  • Laundry services
  • Nutritious meal options
  • Monthly physician visits
  • Engaging social opportunities, programs, and events

This level of care is ideal for seniors who can stay mostly independent but need some help with minor daily activities. It’s an excellent option for those who want to maintain their lifestyle while having access to essential support services.

Level 2: Assistance Care

In assistance care, your loved one still retains access to all of the benefits of general care. However, this level includes additional services designed to preserve your loved one’s quality of life. If your loved one is struggling with some daily tasks but still wants to remain independent, assistance care may be the right choice.

Our assistance care program helps provide support with activities including:

  • Personal grooming
  • Bathing and hygiene two times per week
  • Dressing
  • Support getting to and from community events
  • Medication administration

The focus of assistance care is to provide in-depth support to your loved one, giving them care when they need it to stay independent and autonomous. Your loved one receives a custom care plan that clearly outlines their needs to make sure they’re well taken care of, with easy access to any needed support.

Assistance care is ideal for seniors who need more help than general care, but don’t need more advanced medical, physical, and cognitive support. It’s an excellent choice for those who require regular assistance with personal tasks and want to maintain as much independence as possible.

Level 3: Progressive Care

Progressive care offers more advanced one-on-one care for your loved one, while still offering a comfortable and supportive environment in our community. It’s designed for seniors who need more in-depth assistance with their daily tasks, and includes:

  • A higher staff-to-resident ratio
  • Assistance with dressing and undressing every day
  • Bathing and grooming services 3 times per week
  • Around-the-clock care
  • Support for any daily activities

The primary benefit of progressive care is that it allows your loved one to stay in assisted living for a longer time. Rather than transition to a skilled nursing community or more medical-focused setting, your loved one can remain in a comfortable, home-like environment while still having their needs met.

A senior woman in assisted living sitting clasping hands with her caregiver while smiling and sitting on the couch.
This level of care can make a significant difference in your loved one’s quality of life while reducing stress for your family. Progressive care is suitable for seniors who need more advanced care and round-the-clock access to caregivers.

Level 4: Memory Care

Sometimes, conditions like dementia and other types of memory impairment can cause unique complications in your loved one’s everyday life. However, this doesn’t mean they need to move to a new community; instead, our team can transition your loved one into our memory care program so their needs can still be met.

This is a specialized level of care specifically designed for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and any other type of cognitive decline. Memory care offers a secure, safe, and supportive environment where your loved one can enjoy life in a comfortable setting—without putting their well-being at risk.

In memory care, your loved one gains easy access to:

  • Specially-trained caregivers
  • Personalized therapeutic activities
  • Support with their everyday activities
  • Specialized memory support tailored to individual needs 
  • Regular assessments to adapt care plans as necessary 
  • 24/7 supervision to ensure safety and assistance at any time 
  • Social and recreational programs focused on cognitive engagement 

Even the physical environment is tailored to support your loved one! With clearly laid-out floor plans, visual cues, maps, and more, your loved one can enjoy every day in an environment truly suited to meet their needs. Memory care promotes a dignified, supported lifestyle, and it’s an incredible way to support seniors living with memory impairment or cognitive decline.

What Level of Care Is Right for Your Loved One?

Finding the right level of care for your loved one is crucial. Their needs are unique, so it’s essential to find a community that values your loved one as the individual person they are—and our team at Sommerset Neighborhood can help. Book a tour with our community today, and let’s find the perfect fit for your loved one. We’re here to help!

A senior woman and her caregiver in assisted living sitting on the couch, clasping hands, and laughing together.

More Articles

Staying Active: helping a loved one

Family members are key to the health and vitality of aging seniors. Even if you have a loved one who is no longer capable of keeping up as once before, staying as active as possible can help an elderly loved one stay happy and healthier. There is even research supporting the idea that physical activity...

Read More

Can You Take Care of Elderly Parents at Home?

Caring for senior parents is a noble endeavor that many children take on as a labor of love. However, this isn’t always the easiest task in the world, and can present a unique set of challenges that can be difficult to address without professional support. So can you take care of senior parents at home?…

Read More

Preparing for Fall

Now that summer is over, seniors across Oklahoma City are welcoming the cooler weather and anticipating the best holidays of the year coming up. For family, it is a busy time of year with the kids going back to school and life getting back to all the regular commitments. And for those in retirement, fall...

Read More

Activities for Seniors in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is a vibrant community full of interesting activities, people, and more. However, many seniors still find themselves struggling to think of new ways to make their days engaging and memorable. So what are some senior-safe activities in Oklahoma City? Next time you visit your loved one in Oklahoma City, encourage them to Visit…

Read More
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Sign up for our free monthly newsletter! Keep in touch with what is happening at Sommerset Neighborhood and enjoy new topics related to senior living and care.

You have Successfully Subscribed!