A place for senior living provides care for senior citizens. The type of care given can vary dependent on the facility. There are nursing homes for those that need skilled nursing care, also called convalescent homes or care homes. These are places for those needing help will all parts of daily activities. These homes are not just for seniors though but can have patients of younger adult years as well. Many people in the nursing homes also receive physical or rehabilitative therapy as well.

A nursing senior living home can be reimbursed by Medicare, which is a federal program for those that contributed to Social Security and Medicare when they were working. These homes are licensed by the states which have different laws and regulations regarding them. Not all senior living nursing homes choose to participate in Medicare or Medicaid. If the nursing home passes an inspection, then it is certified and subject to federal law and regulations.

Nursing homes that do participate in Medicare or Medicaid are required to have licensed practical nurses on duty twenty four hours a day. Also a registered nurse must be on duty at least eight hours a day, seven days a week. Nursing homes are managed by a licensed nursing home administrator. Administrators have no standardized training and licensing requirements, though most states require a federal license.

There are also senior living facilities for those that do not need the full care of a nursing home and these places are called assisted living. This type of place is more home like and has twenty four hour supervision. Many of these assisted living facilities are large homes that have been converted to apartments. These living structures provide a sense of community with an independent lifestyle even though some assistance is needed. It is helpful to the patient's mental health to make the assisted living centers seem homey and comfortable.