Retirement villages and retirement communities, unlike retirement homes, offer separate and autonomous homes for residents. More than two-thirds of the states use the licensure term assisted living. Senior Living - info and advice for older adults. Retirement homes are also called retirement residences. A nursing home is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. A nursing home may be a good choice if both medical and personal care needs have become too great to handle at home. A nursing home may be a good choice if both medical and personal care needs have become too great to handle at home. Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with coordination of services by outside health careproviders. Assisted Living communities are regulated and licensed at the US state level. Housing arrangements for the future can be a stressful, anxiety-provoking topic for you and your family. Senior Living - info and advice for older adults. Retirement homes are also called retirement residences. Assisted Living communities are regulated and licensed at the US state level. A nursing home is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. The usual retirement home pattern is that each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. A nursing home is normally the highest level of care for older adults outside of a hospital. Assisted Living communities are regulated and licensed at the US state level. Nursing Home residents in a skilled nursing facility may also receive physical, occupational, and other rehabilitative therapies following an accident or illness. The usual retirement home pattern is that each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Each state licensing agency has its own definition of the term it uses to describe assisted living.