Nursing homes play an important role in health care and recovery. Patients who do not need the immediate support of a hospital but require more attention than can be offered at home find that nursing homes provide a good mix of personalized attention, privacy and independence.

The term “nursing home” is a broader term for a collection of facilities that focus on the care of elderly or disabled people. Facilities that provide these services have more specialized names based on the individual services they provide. There are long-term care facilities, assisted living, care homes, rest homes, convalescent homes, convalescent care, nursing care and skilled nursing facilities.

Nursing homes can be either public or private. Most of them – about 80 percent – are private. According to statistics, about 40 percent of private nursing homes are owned by a national chain. 

The Bridge Care Suites is a private short-term nursing facility in Springfield, Illinois, specializing in transitional rehabilitation care.

In addition to offering long-term care for conditions like dementia, nursing homes also provide short-term healthcare services during an illness or following a surgery or injury. Common services at a quality rehabilitative care facility include physical therapy, IV therapy, postop wound care, enteral feeding, ostomy care, speech therapy and occupational therapy with on-site nurses, aides and other trained and licensed medical pros.

A widespread misconception of nursing homes is that once a patient is admitted, they are never discharged. While a small percentage (about 10 percent) of patients aged 75 to 84 years old stay in a nursing home for five years or more, a larger portion (close to 30 percent) stay less than 100 days. 

Nursing Home Staff and Requirements

Nursing homes and other care facilities usually have stringent laws and requirements. First, nursing home employees are expected to be licensed or certified in the state in which they work. Second, nursing homes must have at least one Registered Nurse (RN) available throughout the week. Third, nursing homes need at least one licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) on duty. A complete nursing home staff would include:

  •       Registered Nurses (RN): RNs monitor patients, implement a care plan, administer medications, maintain medical charts and records, and direct nursing assistants and LPNs. By law, nursing homes must have at least one RN available for a minimum of eight consecutive hours a day throughout the week.
  •       Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): LPNs oversee the patient’s direct bed care and daily routine by monitoring their health, administering treatments, dressing injuries, and dispensing medications and prescribed drugs, among other duties. By law, a nursing home must have at least once LPN on duty 24 hours a day.
  •       Nursing Assistants: Nursing Assistants work directly under RNs and LPNs to provide basic care related to daily living such as bathing, dressing, assisting with meals, making and cleaning beds, toileting and responding to other needs. Nursing Assistants go by a few different titles, like Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), caregivers, and patient care associates, assistants or technicians.
  •       Physical Therapists: Physical therapists work with patients to regain balance, endurance, flexibility, range of motion and strength following an injury, illness or surgery. Physical therapy (PT) also helps prevent re-injury and can reduce overall pain. PT can be beneficial to those suffering from arthritis, dementia, Alzheimer’s, incontinence, and pain associated with cancer or a stroke.
  •       Speech-Language Pathology (SLP): A speech-language pathologist specializes in language and speech, usually following an injury or underlying diagnoses. A speech therapist focuses on the muscles and movements used to produce speech; specific speech disorders like Phonology and Apraxia; and other concerns like difficulty swallowing food. Speech therapists also treat guests in order to improve or enhance their cognitive skills. 
  •       Occupational Therapists (OTs): Following an injury or illness, simple movements can become difficult. An occupational therapist concentrates on improving daily living activities like bathing, dressing and grooming to allow the patient to reintegrate into society comfortably and safely. OTs also work with brain-related issues such as improved memory, attention span length and sequencing.
  •       Administration: Administrative staff at a nursing home oversees personnel and hiring, orders medical supplies, handles financial matters, and ensures compliance with state and federal laws. Administration at The Bridge Care Suites includes a RN BSN Director of Nursing, LPN coordinator, director of nursing, HR/office manager and a social services/discharge planner.
  •       Housekeepers: Housekeepers play a vital role in today’s world by keeping nursing homes clean and free of disease. Housekeepers spend their days sanitizing, scrubbing floors, exchanging linens, cleaning bathrooms, changing towels, doing laundry, emptying the trash, replenishing supplies, dusting, vacuuming and washing windows.
  •       Recreational Staff: Recreation and additional support staff work to enhance the overall guest experience. Planned activities are a great way to relieve stress, get some exercise and interact with other residents at the home. The Bridge Care Suites has a full support staff working hard at the on-site restaurant, spa, salon and theater to help keep resident’s minds and bodies in a healthy place.

Why Choose a Nursing Home?

There are several benefits of staying in a nursing home. For those requiring long-term care, a nursing facility can be a home away from home. The Bridge Care Suites has 57 private rooms with 9 semi-private rooms that have all the comforts of home. Guest rooms have a personally controlled heating and cooling system, comfy beds, flatscreen TVs, spacious private bathrooms, tasteful furnishings and décor, and large windows with lots of natural light. Daily housekeeping is also provided.

Around the facility, there’s plenty to do. Guests can relax at the spa, enjoy a delicious meal at the dining room, catch a show at the theatre, get a new “do” at the on-site salon, get some work done at the business center, or interact with friends and other guests in one of the game rooms. At The Bridge Care Suites, guests can do anything and everything they want … or nothing at all. The facility and its well-trained staff strive to establish an ideal environment for each guest while ensuring the patient’s recovery and health is always at the forefront.

Patients who arrive at The Bridge Care Suites for short-term care have the comfort of knowing the facility’s cutting-edge technology and noted therapy program will make them feel better in no time. Although the stay is short, it doesn’t have to be dull, frustrating or uncomfortable. With a focus on basic and advanced therapy services for post-operative, sub-acute and orthopedic needs, the facility’s highly trained staff delivers results in a holistic, relaxing environment. All the comforts make the recovery process easier and empower patients to concentrate on what’s important.

The welcoming staff at The Bridge Care Suites is eager to speak with you about your rehabilitative stay or long-term care needs. We have private rooms available right now! 

Call us at (217) 787-0000 and let’s discuss how we can help you or your beloved family member.