Searching for skilled nursing facility Peoria IL? Whether you have family in need of a team that can assist with therapy, or rehab and recovery, it is important to note that skilled nursing care has more than doubled in the past two decades alongside independent living communities. However, a skilled nursing facility is very different from regular nursing facilities, even though the terms may be used interchangeably.
Understanding the terms used in the senior living industry is essential to choosing the right care options for your loved one. Unfortunately, the senior care industry throws many terms around which may sound similar but mean different things.
Many people are understandably confused by the term “skilled nursing.” Here the terms describe the type of nursing or describe the type offered. However, the need for a skilled nurse to care for a senior does not automatically necessitate being sent to a facility because a professional nurse can be made available even at the senior’s home.
What Is Skilled Nursing in Nursing Home Facilities?
It is best described as a high level of medical care that needs to be provided by or perhaps under the supervision of licensed experts like Registered Nurses (RNs). In addition, the individual may also need the help of other professionals like an occupational therapist, and speech and physical therapist. These services may not be provided in an assisted living community.
The services may be needed either over the short term to rehabilitate the individual in question from illness or a recent accident, or they may require it over the long term and needs high-level care constantly or frequently. Usually, this care is needed because they are suffering from a chronic medical condition.
Common instances of skilled care inside nursing homes or other senior facilities include:
- Wound care
- Health Care injections
- Physical therapy
- Monitoring of vital signs
- Operating medical equipment
- Catheter care
- Intravenous therapy
Skilled nursing care can thus be provided in just about any setting and for any length of time as ordered by a doctor. This type of care is usually covered by Medicare or Medicaid. For veterans, it may be covered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or under private health insurance.
Improve Your Health with a Skilled Nursing Facility Peoria IL
Seniors requiring more assistance than provided in the home will have to consider moving to a specialized assisted living facility. Here they will receive a wide range of services to ensure they get the care needed to recover something that family members may otherwise not be able to offer at home. For instance, they will receive the support needed to carry out daily activities as they start to recover.
It is worth noting that skilled nursing homes in Peoria, IL, will vary in the level of care they provide. A lot depends on the state licensing requirements, determining the tier of medical care provided. However, all plans for residents are created, regularly updated, and overseen by seasoned registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses.
Skilled nursing ensures that there is always some level of security and personal care available 24/7. However, assisted living generally provides nonmedical supervision and support, which is why a regular facility will not offer the skilled care needed.
Usually, residents whose needs exceed what an assisted living facility can provide will either have to hire a home health agency that will provide the needed medical care at their home or move them to a higher-level nursing home in Peoria, Illinois.
The Difference Between a Skilled Nursing Facility and a Nursing Home
Nursing homes or continuing care retirement communities are generally licensed healthcare institutions where individuals that need a higher level of medical care can reside while being assisted. A highly skilled nursing team consists of Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and LPNs, providing 24/7 medical attention.
Nursing homes are commonly referred to as skilled nursing facilities, but this isn’t correct. As we noted earlier in the article, there is a difference between the two. While both provide around-the-clock medical care, skilled nursing facilities are meant for short-term rehabilitation, of which Medicare may cover up to 100 days. However, Medicare may not cover long-term stays or permanent residences in nursing homes.
Medicaid will cover short-term nursing home costs and extended living in a nursing facility for seniors who aren’t as financially stable or from the low-income bracket of the population. However, the details of this coverage and the eligibility requirements will vary from one state to the next.
There are some facilities that only provide long-term care and only short-term care for main rehabilitation or serve both purposes amongst other senior living options. To be certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities have to meet strict criteria and may be subject to inspections ensuring that they adhere to the highest quality standards.
Evaluate All Short & Long Term Care Options
When in the market for senior care in Peoria IL, whether it is a home health care, skilled nursing facility or a traditional nursing home, you will want to ensure that the facility has the mandated federal and state certifications. This will ensure that they are adhering to the highest standards in terms of medical services.
Visit senior care providers and see the facilities for yourself. Skilled nursing facilities need to be clean and staffed by experts who are with residents 24/7. So, you need to make sure that they are adequately staffed and certainly not understaffed because, in the latter, seniors may be neglected.
Finally, read reviews to find out what experience other patients have had with the facility. This should give you an idea if they can be trusted with your loved one.
