What is the difference between assisted living and a skilled nursing facility?

When you are looking at options for your loved one or yourself and it becomes clear that more help is needed than just the occasionally visitor can provide, finding the right alternative to independent living can be overwhelming.

One of the most common question seniors have is what the difference is between assisted living and a skilled nursing facility. Will they need one over the other?

Skilled Nursing Facilities

A senior may be placed in a skilled nursing facility if they have experienced medical trauma. For example, if they fall and require rehabilitation, or if they go through a major surgery that has a longer recovery time than a couple of days.

These facilities are crucial, as they allow the patient to be moved from a hospital. While hospitals are great for treating conditions in the short term, or for immediate intervention, they have a high infection rate. So moving the patient as soon as possible to either their home or one of the rehab centers is ideal.

The average stay for a patient at one of these facilities is a week to a couple of months. Once the patient has healed enough to continue recovery at home, they are discharged.

Assisted Living Facilities

An assisted living facility is a permanent residence that allows the person in question to live semi-independently. They have their own apartment and the ability to come and go as they choose. However, there is medical and assistance staff on hand 24/7.

These professionals can assist with everyday tasks that have become difficult for the resident. That may include bathing, cleaning, cooking, feed, dressing and general motor issues. They also help monitor medication schedules when needed and are on hand if there is an emergency, such as a fall or a potentially fatal event like a heart attack or stroke.

Many families choose assisted living facilities over nursing homes for their loved ones because of the balance between care and independence it offers the residents. While their loved one can move about freely and be within their own space, there is less risk of accidents or injury occurring. It provides peace of mind for everyone involved.

Moving From Skilled Nursing to Assisted Living

In many cases, a patient will be referred to assisted living after being within a skilled nursing facility. In that case, there are case workers within the rehab center that can be help find a location, petition social security or insurance and help with the finer details of the move.

Find out more by checking out our Assisted Living Centers in Springville and Draper, UT.

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Recent Posts

Valerie Ackley

19:55 31 Oct 18

I have known the owner of the Ashford and many staff members for years. My niece even worked for The Ashford as a Med Tech for a time. I work for Brighton home health & hospice and have watched them care for our patients who live there. The support and attention they give their residents is fantastic. The building is always clean and beautiful. Highly recommend.

Steph Thomas

01:02 11 Oct 18

Both of my grandmothers have lived at two different Ashford's in the past several years and our experience in both was phenomenal! Fantastic staff, clean facility, amazing meals, wonderful owners who live locally. We felt the Ashford took care of not only our loved ones but us as family members as well. Draper is lucky to have an Ashford in their area. Residents and their families will love the owners (who are local and hands on) as well as the quality of staff that they hire!

Peyton Beveridge

23:09 07 Nov 18

I have worked for Ashford in the past and I am so excited to work for them again! They create a great work environment for their employees. The staff is very nice and they provide amazing care for their residents! The building is beautiful and has a local owner that is also the administrator!

Lidia Claus

14:09 27 Sep 18

After being a stay at home mom for several years Ashford has been the perfect fit for me and my family. Ashford cares about their employees and when employees are happy they pass that along to the residents. I can genuinely say " I love my job."Did I mention that the facilities are beautiful?

Susan Moberg

15:27 23 Mar 19

What a beautiful facility and wonderful staff. We appreciate the personal care our mother is receiving at Ashford. If I could give 10 stars I would. Thank-you!

Scott Ranck

04:27 03 May 19

This is a fantastic Assisted Living Center! Top notch facility and even better staff and ownership! The staff truly care about the people they are serving, treating them as if they are their own family. I would HIGHLY recommend this center for you or your loved ones! 👍👍

Dennis Sweat

02:27 11 May 19

Our mother is in the Memory Care unit at Ashford and has been so well cared for. There is a wonderful home-like feeling at Ashford. The staff really care about the residents. They remember names of family members and are always helpful and responsive. The owner Greg and all of the employees are fully engaged in all aspects of care. The facility is beautiful, new and clean, with lovely furnishings and paintings. The food is excellent (and the aides help with cutting up food for memory care residents if needed). We have been so happy with the care our mother has received at Ashford!

Christopher Beckstrand

10:56 11 May 19

Ashford is first class! As an industry professional I’ve visited and operated many assisted living communities, and non surpass the quality and attention to detail that this company offers. I highly recommend Ashford!

Hollie Walker

19:20 05 Jun 19

What an incredible staff. Everyone is willing to help and work together for the best care of each resident.

Sue Davies

02:07 09 Jul 19

Thank you Ashford! What a great place for your loved one! They truly care about your loved one and their families! Knowing my dad is safe and has all the help he needs makes all the difference. The Ashford is a beautiful facility with top notch employees! There are “no behind the scene” people here, from Greg the owner, who visits with the residents, to ALL the wonderful staff that is available daily, the Ashford is truly a “home” away from home! Thank you!!

Terilyn Hendrix

12:57 22 Jul 19

My mother was in Ashford Assisted Living. She has lived in 3 other places, and none compare in the least to Ashford. The staff is the best ever. Who says to the patient "I Love You" each time they left her. They kept mom so clean, even under very unpleasant circumstances. Many times washing everything every day. There was never a smell. The waste cans were emptied at least every day and many times more often. Anything soiled was removed immediately. We all live to eat yummy food. Just wish mom had been in better health to enjoy the best food ever. Never leftovers made into soups etc. I was given personal contact information so I could keep in contact constantly with her care givers on moms health and needs. They often called me reporting any changes and new ideas to help her. I can never thank them enough. They felt like my friends - even family. I would give them 10 stars if I could. Thank you Thank you Ashford. What an unbelievable team.

Alyssa Aguilar

20:15 04 Dec 19

I love Ashford! They put so much effort into finding genuine caregivers. The aides here are held to a high standard amongst other facilities. Your family will be treated like family. Hard work never goes unnoticed or unappreciated. I truly am grateful to work for such an amazing facility.

debbie gardner

23:56 05 Feb 20

My parents were some of the first to move I to Ashford. While we love the beauty of of the building what we love the most is the people who love and care for the residents and their families there. Moms passing was treated with great respect and dad is well taken care of now in memory care. I would highly recommend Ashford for the care of your loved ones.

Kym Hogan

13:38 06 Feb 20

Five stars and then some! The kindness, compassion and caring of the Ashford staff is exceptional. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) is friendly and helpful. I moved my mom to Ashford a few months ago from another community and regret I didn’t get her here sooner. The food is truly delicious! On one occasion, my mom said “the potato salad tastes just like my mom used to make” I’ve eaten here myself and love the food too. My family and I are so happy with the Ashford experience!

Ben Howard

03:54 11 Feb 20

I put my mother with Ashford on the level 1 care side last year. She eventually ended up in Memory Care after 5 months. Simply put, the people at Ashford are doing God’s work. They were amazing at all times. I know this kind of facility can be expensive, but they are very competitive with anything in the valley. I will be forever grateful to them. My mom passed away last October, but Ashford helped in so many ways to make her last months better. If you have a loved one who needs Assisted living, this is where you want to go. I am a Physician and I know excellent care and they give it.Ben Howard Draper, Utah

Michelle or Mark White

00:13 20 Feb 20

I cannot express enough how positive my experience has been with Ashford in Draper! The staff is super friendly and the grounds are beautiful. Most importantly is the compassion and dedication demonstrated to their residents. The interior is thoughtfully designed.....clean and contemporary.Wonderful people! Thank you Ashford!

Tammy

21:52 07 Mar 20

I cannot say thank you enough for the excellent care our mom received while she was at Ashford in Draper! She was given such compassionate care and our family was treated with such kindness. They really wanted to make sure all of our mother’s needs were met as well as the family’s. Such a beautiful facility and delicious home cooked meals!

christopher smith

18:50 10 Aug 20

If I could provide 6 stars, I would. Deciding to move my mother from California to Utah was not an easy decision. She was going to leave life-long friends who she loved and adored. Knowing she would require much more assistance and care then we were equipped to handle, we decided assistant living was the best option. Not because we did not love her, nor wanted her to be in our house: She had medical issues that we are not trained for. (Vascular Dementia) We knew we needed to provide a safe and loving place for her to be happy and to thrive. We looked at many options for her and found Ashford to be the best. Very affordable, beautiful building, beautiful furnishings, clean, and best of all VERY CARING and THOUGHTFUL STAFF. My mother kept saying how she loved her new place. She honestly felt she was living in a 5 star resort. The move extended her life by 10 months. A time we will always cherish. She made many new friends; Some on staff and other residence. At the end, she was care for with much love, respect and dignity. The qualities I was looking for the our extra time with Grannie.

Paul Jolley

12:57 25 Nov 20

Five stars is just not enough! Ashford Assisted Living & Memory Care of Draper is absolutely the best in accommodating the needs of the patient and those whose lives have been turned upside down with the demands of specialized memory care! Their staff and facilities are extraordinary and highly recommended!

Denae Schow

20:10 16 Jan 21

We can't adequately express our heartfelt appreciation for the patience, never-ending kindnesses, love, respect and tender care of our mom at Ashford. Beautiful home atmosphere, great food, fun activities, impeccable communication and very caring staff. Even the residents are wonderful! From the on-site owner, Greg, to Jace the administrator, all the CNA's, nurse, receptionists, and all the staff at Ashford, we can't thank you enough for all that you did for Mom and for us. Mom loved you! And so do we! You always made us feel welcome and loved us too. You all went far above what was required of you. Always welcoming us by name with sweet, warm smiles and showing an interest in our own personal lives, as well as listening patiently to mom and visiting with her each day. You were very solicitous of her, going out of your way to make sure Mom was happy and loved. So grateful for you! We appreciate all the thoughtful things you did for her. Thanks for loving our mom!Greg and Jace, a special thank you for allowing us to be with our mom as much as possible during her last days and letting us stay with her day and night. This meant the world to us and to our mom, who begged us not to let her die alone. From the bottom of our hearts, Thank You!!!With love and deep gratitude, the Godfrey Family

Brent Bonham

00:13 02 Feb 21

Our mother loved staying at Ashford. Its a beautiful place and very well taken care of. The staff who work there really care for the people they serve. Our only regret is that we didn't move our mom in there sooner!

Rick McBride

02:14 02 Feb 21

We have had nothing but great help with my wife's mom in Ashford. They are all so much help and it is a wonderful place for her to live. She gets all the care she needs and they communicate to us regularly especially this year when we were not able to visit because of COVID. All the employees are very kind and willing to help with anything that comes up. I would definitely recommend Ashford Assisted Living to anyone.

Robin Watkins

22:04 02 Feb 21

On behalf of our entire family I want to express our gratitude to Ashford Memory Care Draper staff, for all the love and attention given to our husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa and friend, for the past 3 months he resided there. Everything to the last detail was attended to with care and genuine concern and full attention. Ashford is absolutely beautiful in its decor and peaceful setting. The residents have privacy and still have opportunities to mingle, become friends and participate in activities together. The activities director is living to residents and extended family as is all the staff there, the nurses are skilled and attentive, and the delicious meals are prepared to meet the individual needs of each resident. The owners truly care about our LO’s and have created an atmosphere that I don’t think can be matched anywhere. Amongst covid they blessed us with a sensitivity to the needs of our LO to have us near and at the same time balance the need for respecting state and local guidelines and protecting all residents’.We are forever grateful. The Watkins Family

Jewel M

21:00 30 Dec 21

My loved one has been in memory care at Ashford for just over four months. We'd toured 15 options before choosing this one and did not make the decision lightly. Overall we've been very pleased with the experience. It is clean, beautiful, and secure. Many of the caregivers are truly that - "care" givers. I know they are notoriously underpaid so it is amazing to see several who are so stellar. I've sat in on many activities, that need to meet diverse interests and ability/cognition levels. Anything music is a favorite and all of the activity directors have been very kind and engaging. Unfortunately, the only activity on Sunday is LDS church services, so if you're lived one isn't Morning it can be a long boring day but about half of the facilities we toured were the same.The communication has been pretty good, we get occasional updates and concerns by email or text from the care coordinator.A caution is to label everything. And even then, know you may never see it again. Which is understandable with small items like a comb, or knicknack, but we've lost a full length flight pink robe, a black pop up mesh laundry hamper, an expensive bottle of perfume, and a pair of pink fuzzy slippers. All have been missing for months. Our L.O. often forgets which room is hers and will leave things in other places. They also see something familiar and think it belongs to them, so I understand the initial confusion, but such large items for so long is just baffling.We were required to switch to their preferred pharmacy, which isn't our insurance company's preferred pharmacy, so now we have copays for medications that have always had no charge. It's understandable that it helps them better manage the meds though.There seems to be a staff Exodus happening as they have lost their administrator, director of nursing, and front desk manager all within a few weeks. That makes one nervous. Hopefully it's just a fluke.

Marjean Deeben

18:22 15 Mar 22

I love the individual attention that my mother receives here, from the owner on down. All the staff know her by name. They always have smiles on their faces. Good morale among the staff. Anything mom needs is taken care of. They have activities and rides every week. The facility is clean, well maintained and bright and cherry. Couldn't be happier with her care.

Braxton Porter

18:27 15 Mar 22

This has been a wonderful place for my grandmother. They treat her so well, she feels very welcome here. The staff are very personable and know her and even her guests by name. The place is family owned, and much better than other large company ones.

Scott Rose

19:58 16 Mar 22

Our father was alone for 5 years after our mother died. He insisted that he did not want to leave his home. But we took him on a tour at Draper and he wanted to move in immediately! He was always an extrovert, and he blossomed again when he came to the Draper home. He immediately became his old self and was soon entertaining other guests at the home with his jokes and stories. He loved it. We found that the staff was extremely helpful, especially when we had to place Dad in Hospice Care. They took care of everything, and we felt we had a partner in taking care of Dad, and without all the hassles and worries that go with taking care of an elderly loved one! The staff was always accessible and extremely friendly. We have recommended this place to several people over the past 2 years since Dad passed on. Thank you for making Dad's last months happy and fulfilling! Scott and Anita Rose and Siblings

Mikenna G

17:42 23 Mar 22

I’m an outside provider and love having patients in this building! The staff is friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend sending anyone from my own family here.

Randanie Danjanovich

23:03 07 Apr 22

Ashford Assisted Living is a great place for taking care of your elderly loved ones!! They have amazing staff that really care about details and the comfort of their residents! Thank you for taking such great care of my mother and all her needs!!!

Alyssa Mauchley

16:42 10 May 22

One of the most beautiful and well taken care of facilities I have been to. I had a lot of anxiety about my sweet grandma moving into an Assisted Living facility. I had worked 911 in downtown SLC and had seen a lot of really poor and neglectful care come from more facilities than you can imagine. When I first visited her, I immediately noticed how clean it was and how friendly everybody was. She was on cloud nine when we talked to her and asked how she liked it. She told us about all the activities and friends she had made. She loves the gal's that do her nails and hair. She has now been there almost two and a half years and she still loves it. She has a beautiful view of the temple and mountains from her room and we know she has wonderful caregivers and an administration looking after her should she need anything. My parents have said several times that the second they retire and need to be put in a home they want to live at Ashford. It is hard to find somebody you don't like there. The atmosphere is very light and happy. We recommend Ashford to everybody.

A Person

06:20 11 Jun 22

One of the worst parts of caring for elderly parents is coming to the realization that you can no longer provide the care for them they need and that it's time for them to have access to 24 hour professional care. That is the realization we came to with our father, almost exactly two years ago. Within 14 months he lost his wife and two of his children, and then broke his hip after a simple fall (on carpet even).After four months in nursing/rehab care he still hadn't reached the point where he could walk again, and it was clear that he never would. He didn't want to go, and the day we moved in was bittersweet, but within a week or two dad felt right at home.The hallways were wide, bright, and cheerful. There was a bright seating area at one end of the hallway, and a balcony at the other end where dad and I would often sit on Sundays eating ice cream and staring at the mountains. There was a patio area in the back where we had a picnic one day (and planned to have many more). The food was good and the facility was clean.But what matters more than anything at an assisted living facility is the quality of the staff, and I cannot imagine any place with a better staff than Ashford. The nurses there became like his own granddaughters, and would spend countless hours in endless conversations with him. Their care for him lifted his spirits (and ours) at a very dark time.Dad has been gone now for almost a year, but on behalf of myself, my siblings, and the rest of our family, we cannot thank Ashford enough. And since my Google ID doesn't reveal my real name, I will let Ashford know who we are by saying...Roll Tide.

GARY OWEN

04:14 05 Sep 22

Ashford Assisted Living in Draper is wonderful. Our mother (mother in law) Marjorie N has been a resident for 6 months. She is 94 and due to health and age, become too much for us to care for at home. The professional Ashford Team welcomed her, they treat her like family and give us daily updates on her condition and health. We visit almost daily and at each visit we are greeted by name. Their professional health care providers are equally kind and we feel fortunate to have their support as life moves forward. We feel totally confident in their treatment and care for mom. Brenda & Gary

Amanda C

00:06 29 Sep 22

I travel through out Salt Lake County and visit with the Elderly in Assisted Living facilities for work. I have seen the good, bad and the ugly side of staff taking care of their patients. I cannot say enough good things about Ashford Assisted Living. I have visited with many residents that live their and am always amazed by the friendly and caring CNA's. I mainly visit in the Memory Care Side and the staff absolutely show love and compassion. Always willing to lend a hand and make sure that they are always following safety protocol. I would 100% feel comfortable dropping off a loved one at this facility and walk away knowing they are getting the best care that is offered.

Karen T

13:18 07 Sep 23

Ashford in Draper was the perfect fit for our mother. Not only was the staff caring and attentive, but they also made my mother feel so special. The center had the look and feel of her home. We were delighted to have our mom there.

Rylee Hunter

17:33 16 Oct 23

I have worked at Ashford for over a year and have loved it! There is a great team of workers who really care for the residents. It is a very calming atmosphere and is always clean which I appreciate as an employee here.

Rebeckah Watkins

20:45 29 Aug 23

It felt like such a miracle when my sister and I walked through the door at Ashford. After the death of our father, we had been taking turns staying with our newly widowed mother. We realized very quickly that "Mom's little memory problem" Dad told us about was well advanced dementia. She lived alone, several hours from us, and needed more specialized care than we could provide. We toured other facilities in Salt Lake City and felt more and more discouraged.Immediately upon walking into Ashford breathing became easier. Although we didn't have an appointment, Heidi was happy to give us a tour of the memory care facility. We saw completely unstaged day to day activity in the unit.Mom was soon settled into her own space with her own furnishings and decorations. Putting a loved one in a memory care facility is tough on everyone, but we followed Ashford's recommendations and after a few months, Mom settled in and was at peace. Her health quickly improved, she regained some of the weight she had lost, she had daily socialization and her meds were taken at the proper times and doses. Ashford communicated regularly with us and kept us in the loop on every decision.Best of all, it allowed us to be her children once again, and her last few months were as happy and peaceful as anytime in her life.Unbelievably, Ashford was nowhere near the priciest facility we explored. The price we were quoted was the actual price. No adding fees here or there for anything. Just great care at the rate we expected to pay.I can't say enough about the goodness of Ashford. The administration, the kitchen, the CNA's, the nurses, the cleaning crews. The medical groups the facility interacts with and recommended to us were top notch as well. AMG medical and Aspire Hospice. What a team.Thank you, thank you.

Mark Austin

22:19 04 Oct 23

When it became necessary to get some additional help for our mother, we looked for a facility that would care for her, and show her the respect she deserves. A big concern was with regards to administering her medications. Although she had multiple health issues, she was able to function on her own, but needed attention in making sure her meds were given as prescribed by her medical team. These medications were critical to her health. Included with this was medication for her heart, kidneys, diabetes, and other things. As we met initially with the Ashford people, they assured us that they would be able to handle the medication needs for mom. Things seemed to be well for awhile. The facility is clean. The staff were kind and seemingly attentive to her needs. All appeared to be going well.While visiting with mom on one occasion, she indicated that she was not getting all of her meds, and was concerned. I talked with the appropriate people at Ashford about this and they assured me that mom was getting all of her meds. During subsequent visits, mom kept telling us that she was not getting some of her pills. There were several more conversation with the Ashford staff and they finally admitted that there had been a “few times” where mom did not get her meds, but that they had fixed the problem. They blamed this problem on lack of staff, too many people quitting, training issues, the doctors not prescribing properly, and not getting the meds from the pharmacy in a timely manner. I wasn’t interested in their excuses and told them I just wanted my mother to get the medications she was supposed to get. I was frustrated that they did not seem to take responsibility for this problem but were fast to point fingers at someone else. Once again, a promise was made that the problem would be taken care of. They thanked me for bringing it to their attention so they could make some adjustment on how they did things. As a family we talked about moving mom to another facility and suggested it to her, but she really liked the residents and friends she had there. Her apartment was nice and she did not want to move.When yet another problem surfaced where medications were not administered to mom I personally called her doctor and had her order the meds mom needed and I personally went to the pharmacy and got them and took them to her under direction from the doctor.I became aware that there is a report that shows what meds are given to each resident and who administers those meds. It is called the Medication Administration Report (MAR). I obtained a copy of this report and saw numerous times when medication had not been given. The reasons why are listed on the report as “Out of Cycle”, “Medication not available”, or other reasons. I confronted Ashford with this and was told again that they would make sure medication were given appropriately. We talked to the nurses and PA’s that were helping mom and they even indicated that they could tell mom was not getting her meds because her check ups were not consistent. In talking with mom, she also indicated that while conversing with other residents they said they were not getting all of their meds either.A call was made to Adult Protective Services and they have investigated the allegations. They found that mom was not getting her meds as prescribed, and also that the MAR report had been changed to reflect that meds were given. Three of the people responsible for helping with moms meds are identified in the report by Adult Protective Service and the allegation of “caretaker neglect is supported”.Bottom line—I would steer clear of this place if your loved one needs any support with their meds. Also, be aware of the MAR report, and watch it carefully irregardless of what facility your loved one is in.We moved our mother to another facility.

Mike Evans

23:26 12 May 24

The staff at the Ashford in Draper was phenomenal during the short 4 month stay for my Mom before she passed away. They attended to her needs consistently and compassionately. The facility is impressive and very spacious allowing my siblings, family and others to visit Mom in a comfortable manner. In the short amount of time she was there she made some great friends that lifted her spirits. I highly recommend the Ashford!

Doug Carling

15:06 03 May 24

When my mom passed in December of 2023, We started looking for a place that would take care of my dad the same way that my mom did. Ashford was amazing. In fact, the only complaint that my dad had with them was that they fed him way too much compared to what he was used to. In his final moments, the staff not only took care of him in the most humane and loving way, but all of his care staff came in individually to not only say they're goodbyes, but to wish us the best as well. Ashford is not just an assisted living facility. It is truly a home in every sense of the word. In the short time my dad was there. He made so many friends and when he was away from Ashford. In rehab for a broken hip, he received cards, calls, and love not only from the staff but from other residents of the facility. If you are looking for a place to help take care of a parent who deserves only the best, then Ashford should be the first place you look. You won't be disappointed and you won't find a better facility anywhere in Utah.

Susan Fiegel

23:02 01 May 24

You will not find a better place for your loved ones than Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care of Draper. The staff--administrators, front office workers, kitchen workers, nurses and care management team, med techs, CNAs, activities staff, housekeeping staff--are all amazing people who love and care for the residents. They were family to Mom and to us, as were the residents. The facility is beautiful and spotless. The activities and special events are so well done and fun for the residents. I can't recommend Ashford enough!

Laura Soffe

01:07 08 May 24

The Ashford was wonderful place for my mother to spend her last 5 months of life. The employees and nurses were always friendly, sweet and kind. I felt confident that my mom was always being very well taken care of when I couldn’t be there.

Roxanne Cowan

01:54 01 May 24

We are so grateful we found Ashford to help with our mother. She was independent and took care of herself for a 101 years. She fell at the end of Dec. She hurt her leg and was no longer mobile. We noticed her memory was slipping and she needed more care than we could provide her. After searching for just the right place for our loving mother, a friend referred us to Ashford. We knew once we met with Heidi this was the place for her. It was clean, friendly, smelled good and offered a great staff. Mom made good friends with staff and other clients. She told us many fun loving stories of her interactions with staff and friends. When she was passing many staff came to pay their respect. That meant alot to us. Her care recieved was excellent! Highly recommended!