08/20/2026
Go see Dusty to explain the ins and outs of healthcare facilities in our area!
WTH! I’m going to rant for a minute.
I see this constantly in local Facebook groups:
“What’s the best nursing home in Pensacola?”
“Can anyone recommend a good assisted living facility for Mom?”
And here come the comments…
“STAY AWAY!”
“That place is horrible!”
“They almost killed my dad!”
“Go to ______. They’re the BEST!”
Here’s my problem:
A lot of the people giving advice don’t even know the difference between an Assisted Living Facility (ALF) and a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF).
The terms assisted living, nursing home, rehab, skilled nursing and memory care get thrown around like they’re interchangeable.
They aren’t.
Before starting Wellborn Senior Solutions, I spent years investigating abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults, including cases involving both ALFs and SNFs. I later spent years working inside skilled nursing.
I've seen the good, the bad and everything in between.
Are all facilities equal? No.
But most facilities—and most people working in them—are trying to do the right thing with the resources they have. Even excellent facilities can have an isolated bad outcome.
And yes, some facilities may not be everyone's first choice. But they may accept Medicaid, manage certain behaviors or care needs, or be financially realistic for a particular family.
Sometimes the “best” facility isn't the right facility.
So, quick lesson:
🏠 ALF — Assisted Living Facility
Primarily residential care for someone who needs help with daily activities, medications, meals, supervision and personal care, but doesn't necessarily require 24-hour skilled nursing. Some ALFs also offer memory care.
🏥 SNF — Skilled Nursing Facility
A higher medical level of care with 24-hour nursing. SNFs may provide short-term rehabilitation after hospitalization as well as long-term nursing care for people with significant medical or functional needs.
And Medicare does NOT pay for someone to simply live in assisted living OR skilled nursing. Medicare may cover qualifying short-term skilled care and rehabilitation in a SNF. That's very different from paying for long-term residential care.
So when someone asks me:
“What’s the best facility in Pensacola?”
My answer?
I don’t know. Tell me about Mom.
Because senior placement isn't a popularity contest.
It's about matching the right person, with the right level of care, to the right community.
Wellborn Senior Solutions
From Planning to Placement — We’ve Got You.
