Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care Environments

How do you know when the time is right to move into a skilled nursing community? Ask your aging parent that question, and you will probably get a resounding ‘NEVER’ that is because most people have a skewed view of what a skilled nursing community actually is. Many people think of institutional environments; dismal places where the elderly languish waiting for someone to attend their every need because they cannot care for themselves. That perception is changing.

What is Skilled Nursing Care?

Skilled nursing is not the same as in old-style nursing homes. While focus on the care of the elderly by highly trained medical staff, the most significant difference in skilled nursing is its goal. The staff in skilled nursing provides rehabilitation services that help sick and disabled people get back on their feet. As people live longer, the need for skilled nursing rises. We feel better, but bones and muscle need to gain strength to continue to do the work of holding the aging body up and helping it to function at a high level. Skilled nursing for seniors focuses on the rehabilitation and tracks the progress.

Assisted Living vs Skilled Nursing Environments

If someone has to assist you in a senior living community, is that the same thing as skilled nursing? Not really. Assisted Living is for seniors who do not require constant care. Seniors who live in assisted living need assistance with the activities of daily living and the key word here is ‘assistance’. Residents in skilled nursing require round the clock care and monitoring. The medical training of the staff is at a higher level. Physical and speech therapists may be on staff as well as skilled nurses.

Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care – When is the Right Time

Before deciding to go into skilled nursing consider a few things. Is it becoming more difficult to care for your aging parent? Are you tired all of the time? Does your aging parent need more medical treatment or care?

A skilled nursing community’s primary goal is to provide a temporary stay with therapy and other medical care designed to get you back on your feet. About 25 percent of those who go into skilled nursing have a quick turnaround time and those patients are released to independent or assisted living in less than three months. There are times when there is a change in the condition and the patient has to stay longer.

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