Those looking into the various types of care of their senior loved ones have most likely heard of the phrase skilled nursing. But do they understand what this phrase means and what it entails? The term seems vague at first glance.
Skilled Nursing: What Is It?
Skilled nursing care is the medical care or treatment that a patient needs. Only licensed nurses or other healthcare experts can provide this care and treatment. This kind of care is commonly delivered via a home healthcare company, assisted living center with an on-staff nurse, or a skilled nursing facility with 24/7 nursing care.
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Skilled Nursing Care at Home
More families are opting for more stable and dedicated care for their senior loved ones. Home health agencies are responding by offering skilled services rendered by licensed nurses. If a doctor prescribes respite care, then Medicare covers it.
The use of a home care agency can provide the patient highly effective medical treatment. The patient gets to retain some independence in the comfort of their own home.
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Skilled Nursing Care in Assisted Living Facilities
For senior meal times loved ones who need more care than you can provide but not much attention, an assisted living facility is the best recommendation. Assisted living facilities offer a large variety of services to individuals who wish to retain some level of independence but need support with activities of daily living (ADLs).
These facilities vary largely in the available measure of care. The amount of medical care provided at ADLs determines the type of license. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses create, manage, and often review the care plans that the residents of ADL use in rehabilitation. The patients have access to some of the nursing staff 24/7. ADLs intend to provide supervision and support with personal care.
Skilled Nursing Care Facilities in Illinois
People use the terms nursing care facilities and nursing homes interchangeably. Skilled nursing care facilities refer to licensed healthcare residences that offer high-level medical care to your senior loved ones than that provided at assisted living facilities. The skilled nursing staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse’s assistants. They are accessible to patients to provide 24-hour medical attention.
These facilities are suitable for short-term rehab accommodation. One such service serving the residents of Springfield, IL, is the Bridge Care Suites. Medicare partially covers some of the services offered in these facilities. You can get information on the Medicare services under our Medicare FAQs. Skilled nursing homes cannot function without getting certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). To attain this certification, these facilities must comply with stringent criteria.
Bridge Care suites provide the possible absolute care to your loved one aside from hospitals. Your loved one will receive respite care for rehabilitation from injury or wound care, medication administration, physical and occupational therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation. If you live within Springfield, IL, or its surrounding, worry no more! You are welcome to bring your senior loved one to Bridge Care suites. We offer rehabilitation following a planned surgery, an injury, or an illness.
When Is Skilled Nursing Care Needed?
You might be asking yourself if skilled nursing care is what your loved one needs. It all boils down to the volume of care your senior loved one requires, and it can differ from one person to the next. For a loved one who needs medical care for an injury, plus assistance with daily activities, a skilled nursing care facility is the best consideration.
Skilled nursing care facilities are for:
A patient who has suffered recent medical issues
Patients who have suffered a severe illness or injury include; a heart attack, stroke, or broken bones from a fall. While it is possible to tackle many of these issues through home care, Bridge Care Suites have certified therapists and nurses to help with the recovery of your senior loved one. During the short-term stay at the facility, the patient will receive round-the-clock access to all kinds of certified professionals to assist in their full recovery.
A patient who needs regular daily care
Skilled nursing care ensures that patients get access to trained professionals 24/7. Qualified nurses who can provide the following intricate services;
- Post-operative wound care and complex wound dressings
- Administering and monitoring intravenous medications
- Specialized injections
- Catheter, incontinence, and colostomy care
- Tube feedings
- Diabetic control
- Monitoring of vital signs and medical equipment
- Specialized therapy
- Hospice care
Types of Skilled Nursing Care
At Bridge Care Suites, we provide rehabilitation when you or your loved one gets discharged from the hospital due to procedures such as surgery, stroke, or accident or illness. We can categorize some of the medical care offered at skilled nursing care facilities into three categories;
Physical therapy: The rehab care staff will develop a personalized plan to maximize the outcome after an illness: surgery or hospitalization.
Occupational therapy: At Bridge Care Suites, we offer assistance in adapting to the social and physical environment through specialized therapies such as getting dressed, memory, and coordination exercises.
Speech Therapy: This service takes care of issues with communication and swallowing dysfunction. The skilled staff creates a treatment plan. This treatment plan assists with language comprehension, offers other communication strategies, and provides diet guidelines.
Among the Skilled nursing staff is:
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Speech/Language pathologists
- Licensed vocational nurses
- Audiologists
- Medical directors
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Skilled Nursing Care Facility
Once you have settled on the type of service you or your senior loved one requires, you will need to select a specific facility or community. We understand that your priority is to place your loved one in a safe, secure, and comfortable location. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the right nursing home for the respite care of your loved one;
- Tour the facility in person if possible. Ask all security questions and mealtimes, and other factors that may influence your loved one’s stay.
- Ask your hospital nurse or doctor for a recommendation of the best-skilled nurse care facility.
- Do your research on the facility to ensure that the residents or their family members have positive reviews.
At Bridge Care Suites, we ensure that you or your loved one receive the best-skilled nursing care needed to regain strength and independence.
