Everyone knows that quality short-term and long-term care leads to a quality life. When the care is personalized and is marked by compassion, it creates a comforting environment for each resident in the facility.
What is skilled nursing?
While people often use the terms “assisted living,” ”nursing home,” and “skilled nursing” interchangeably, all three mean different things.
Assisted living is a type of care for the elderly who need help with daily activities such as eating, grooming, medication reminders, and waking up.
A nursing home is the physical building or place where in-patients receive assisted living or skilled nursing care from caregivers and nurses.
Skilled nursing care refers to the care and treatment that resident patients in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and hospitals receive from licensed nurses.
In the U.S., skilled nursing care and facilities are regulated by the Department of Health and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Senior communities and skilled nursing facilities are subject to stringent requirements and undergo routine inspections to ensure they uphold the expected standards.
Types of skilled nursing care
Most people who suffer a stroke and those who undergo surgeries or extensive treatment for heart disease or kidney complications will need rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility at some point after they leave the hospital.
Based on their needs, here’s what you can expect in terms of care for your loved one:
Occupational therapy: Nurses assist patients to adjust to new social and physical environments through specialized therapies such as memory training, coordination exercises, and daily grooming.
Physical therapy: After surgery or prolonged hospitalization, a patient will receive personalized therapy from a rehab care team to regain physical strength and mobility.
Speech therapy: Speech and language pathologists design treatment plans to assist patients with communication challenges and swallowing problems to overcome their limitations. This happens through interventions such as alternate communication strategies and appropriate dietary plans.
What do skilled nurses do?
Skilled nurses at assisted living facilities and hospitals in Chillicothe, MO provide various social services and medical care to the elderly. Types of services they provide include custodial care, physical therapy, wound care, intravenous injections, and in-patient monitoring.
A senior’s private home or facility is usually staffed by the following healthcare professionals and skilled nursing staff:
- Licensed nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses
- Speech/Language pathologists
- Licensed vocational nurses
- Medical directors
- Audiologists
Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care in Chillicothe, MO
Check out seven key benefits of taking your seniors to skilled nursing communities:
24/7 Medical care
Residents of skilled nursing facilities usually enjoy access to around-the-clock medical care from licensed nurses and other healthcare professionals. On-site physicians who specialize in podiatry, dentistry, optometry, neurology, and practical nurses and nursing assistants are on stand-by. These professionals can provide emergency care to residents, day or night.
Receive specialized therapy
Specialized therapy tops the list of the many benefits of skilled nursing care. Various communities provide rehabilitative care, including speech therapy and physical therapy. Residents will undergo strength training to enhance mobility and prevent falls and pain management from alleviating chronic pain.
Seniors who struggle with daily activities will also receive occupational therapy to regain some level of independence. Anyone with communication or speech disorders will also undergo speech therapy to regain their speech and use their oral faculties. Skilled nursing professionals will tailor a plan that ensures the best outcome for the patients under their watch and care.
Positive social interactions
The process of aging coupled with sudden physical and mental health changes, especially debilitating conditions, can limit a senior’s social engagement. They may find themselves isolated and lonely when family members go to work. That can all change when they check into a skilled nursing facility, where they are surrounded by residents, caregivers, and other medical professionals.
Together with the residents, the seniors in assisted living communities can interact with others and participate in enjoyable social programs designed for their level of mobility. These programs can ensure good physical progress and mental wellness.
Lowers risks of rehospitalization
Whenever elderly persons are hospitalized for serious illness or injuries, the possibility of them being re-hospitalized remains high. Skilled nursing care aims to prevent this scenario by helping seniors regain independence through rehabilitation. Seniors staying in skilled nursing for longer periods and enjoy the comforts of an average home more than those in hospitals.
Another reason to embrace skilled nursing care is the ongoing medical monitoring of older people. It can help them avoid hypertension and other health risks after a hospital stay. Wound care, injections, catheter care, physical therapy, and monitoring of vital signs are all skilled nursing care services that help seniors stay out of the hospital.
Personalized care
Whether short-term or long-term, skilled nursing teams go the extra mile to create deep relationships with residents rather than just offering routine medical care. Nurses usually tailor treatments for individuals, which differs from the standardized care patients receive in most nursing homes and hospitals across the country.
Skilled nursing facilities perform extensive patient assessments for each new resident that checks into their facility. Assessments typically include a person’s physical and mental condition, medications they’re using, medical history, speech, and decision-making ability.
Dietary help
Seniors who are recuperating require a balanced diet. Unfortunately, recovering seniors and those with medical conditions may struggle to prepare nutritious meals regularly. By joining a skilled nursing community, a senior can enjoy the nourishing meals of community dining services. They usually offer various meals and prepare restaurant-quality food.
Cost and coverage
Another benefit of skilled nursing care for seniors is how you can pay for care and what health insurers do cover. Medically necessary rehabilitation treatment can be paid for by private health insurance or Medicare. For example, Medicare Part A covers 100-days of professional care at a nursing care home or facility, as long as you meet specific conditions.
This coverage can ease the cost of providing assisted living care to patients. Insurance covers medical equipment, supplies, medications, and social services to help your seniors live healthy lives.
Looking for skilled nursing services?
If you or a senior family member needs 24-hour nursing support, StoneBridge Senior Living can be of tremendous help. We offer skilled nursing care, long-term care, and hospice services in Chillicothe, MO.
Our in-patient medical treatment facility is fully staffed by qualified and licensed health professionals who provide various services. Friendly and licensed practical nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and speech pathologists are ready to offer your loved ones the personal attention and assistance they need in old age to live healthy, happy lives.