According to the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), more than 1.3 million individuals receive care in a skilled nursing facility or skilled nursing care in a nursing home on given day (Source: AHCA/NCAL), yet many people are unaware of what this type of care entails. If you are one of the many people wondering, “What is skilled nursing,” we have the answer for you.
Skilled nursing is licensed, around-the-clock medical care provided by certified clinicians, often after a person is diagnosed with or experiences a serious illness or injury. This care is usually delivered in skilled nursing facilities (SNF); however, many nursing homes offer skilled nursing care as well.
As experienced senior living consultants, our team at Silver Bridges Consulting has met with families who have been forced to start their senior living search due to an unforeseen hospital stay, a chronic health condition, or after a significant injury. Because of this, skilled nursing comes up a lot in our conversations, but many families don’t have a clear understanding of what it is and what it isn’t.
WHat Does Nursing Care Involve?
Skilled nursing care is clinical care delivered by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed therapists, all under a physician’s direction.
Common care services include:
- Medication management to ensure the right medicines and doses are given to the right person at the right time
- Wound care, rehabilitation, and different types of therapy after a surgery or serious injury
- Ongoing management of chronic conditions, such as heart failure, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
WHat types of rehabilitation and Therapy Services are Offered with Skilled Nursing?
A skilled nursing facility provides rehabilitation care through physical, occupational, and speech therapy:
- Physical therapy helps restore strength, balance, and mobility while reducing pain.
- Occupational therapy allows people to regain independence by focusing on activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and eating.
- Speech therapy addresses and treats communication difficulties and swallowing issues.
Do Snfs Offer Individualized Care and Personal Treatment Plans?
Yes, skilled nursing is individualized care, and residents receive personalized treatment plans based on their unique needs, diagnosis, goals, and ability to manage daily activities. Skilled nursing teams also review progress on a routine basis and adjust plans as residents’ needs change.
WHat Are the Key Differences of Skilled Nursing and Acute Rehab?
If 24/7 medical care and healing support services are required after a hospital stay, an individual or their loved ones will often be asked at discharge to choose between a skilled nursing facility and acute rehabilitation.
Many people don’t know that there are several major differences between the two options, including:
- Therapy Intensity and Hours of Therapy – Acute rehab, or inpatient rehab, provides intensive therapies, typically about three hours of therapy per day, at least five days a week. Skilled nursing offers therapy at a more steady, relaxed pace. This works well for people who need more recovery time or are not yet ready for intensive sessions.
- Setting and Medical Oversight – Inpatient rehab takes place in a hospital unit or a dedicated rehabilitation facility, with frequent physician visits. A SNF provides 24-hour nursing in a more residential atmosphere, offering physician oversight on an as-needed basis.
- Length of Stay – Inpatient rehabilitation is short term, on average lasting two weeks. Skilled nursing can be a short-term recovery stay, or it can transition into long-term care, but on average, the length of stay is four weeks or more. (Source: AHCA/NCAL)
WHere Does Skilled Nursing Fit Among Senior Living Levels of Care?
Senior living spans several levels of care, from independent living to more hands-on support such as assisted living. While assisted living helps with daily activities such as meals, housekeeping, and personal care in a home-like setting, it does not include continuous clinical care. Skilled nursing serves people who need licensed medical attention every day.
While many people receive skilled nursing care in a skilled nursing facility, nursing homes can also offer this type of care, though the main purpose of a nursing home is to deliver long-term custodial care to those who can no longer live independently.
How Can I Confidently Choose the Right Care?
Skilled nursing delivers expert medical and rehabilitative care in a supportive setting. It is distinct from acute rehab, assisted living, and traditional nursing home care. The right choice depends on your or your loved one’s medical needs, recovery goals, and ability to take part in therapy.
If you are not sure what type of senior care is best for you or your loved one, our expert senior living consultants at Silver Bridges Consulting can help. While we support families who are looking specifically for independent living, assisted living, or memory care communities, we can provide clarifying information about the differences between these types of senior living solutions and skilled nursing, and point you in the right direction of the services you need.
