August 12, 2020
Have you ever heard of word association? When you hear a word, your brain automatically starts thinking of other words that are related. For example, if we mention “college”, your brain might think of other words like professors, dorm rooms and dining halls.
When people hear the term “skilled nursing”, many of them immediately assume that it’s the same as a nursing home. But the truth is, skilled nursing and nursing homes are not the same thing. And this is an important topic to understand when you’re trying to determine the best level of care for your loved one.
Let’s explore the difference between skilled nursing and nursing homes. That way, you can help your loved one find the best care option.
Skilled nursing provides a high level of medical care by medical professionals. There are short-term services that help people recover from injuries or hospital stays and long-term services that manage chronic conditions. Unlike a nursing home, skilled nursing services offer daily medical care.
A trained medical staff of doctors, registered nurses and therapists are available 24 hours a day. Nursing homes usually only focus on basic care such as dressing, bathing and medication management. Skilled nursing is much more flexible to help your loved one. Many skilled nursing facilities offer a wide variety of therapies, wound care and acute illness treatment options.
The purpose of skilled nursing depends on the type of care your loved one needs. Short-term skilled nursing helps seniors recover from an injury, illness or recent hospital stay. Long-term skilled nursing helps residents reach a higher level of wellness and quality of life.
It’s important to know that skilled nursing is not always a permanent living option like a nursing home. Skilled nursing includes a high level of temporary care that can help seniors boost their wellness, regain strength and improve mobility. Some of the key benefits of skilled nursing include:
The biggest difference between skilled nursing and nursing homes is the length of stay. Nursing homes are a long-term solution that offers basic care. While skilled nursing has the goal of helping seniors recover or manage their symptoms to improve their quality of life. Seniors can live in a nursing home for years, while skilled nursing usually lasts a month or two.
You might not know that nursing homes are not required to have licensed medical staff on campus. But at skilled nursing facilities, licensed medical staff is crucial. Skilled nursing facilities can have adults of all ages as residents. Nursing homes are designed for seniors specifically.
Skilled nursing facilities also make a dedicated effort to keep clients engaged. For example, some Franciscan Ministries communities have activity coordinators that help skilled nursing clients find ways to celebrate life during their stay.
It can be challenging to know which level of care is right for your loved one. If your loved one needs some extra support for an injury, recent hospitalization or chronic injury, skilled nursing is worth a look.
Or maybe they just need basic support to help them maintain their independent lifestyle. Whichever option is best suited for your loved one, Franciscan Ministries is here to help. Our personalized senior care services can help your loved one continue their retirement with purpose.
At Franciscan Ministries, our team of experienced and licensed health care professionals are here to help. In a warm and welcoming environment, your loved one can reach a higher level of wellness. We take the time to get to know your loved one and develop a personalized care plan to help them thrive.
If you’re interested in learning more about our premier skilled nursing services, contact us today. We believe that the need for skilled care shouldn’t stop your loved one from finding more happiness in each day.
Explore our rehabilitative services and skilled nursing care at the following communities near you.
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