Remember ME - You Me and Dementia

Friday, October 26, 2007

Skilled Nursing Homes is not for All Seniors

What exactly is a skilled nursing facility? The definition of a Skilled Nursing Home is a medical facility offering similar services as a hospital, providing care for the appropriate seniors with optional long-term or short-term care. The price of skilled nursing home care is slowly rising every year. However, skilled nursing homes are an excellent choice for those who require medical professionals. But they are not for every senior. Some seniors just need help with their activities of daily living (ADLs)such as dressing, preparing food, going to the bathroom, or bathing. Is it necessary for a senior to be in an expensive skilled nursing facility when all they need is assistance with their ADLs?

As a matter of fact, there are a number of elderly folk who are in skilled nursing home facilities who only need help with their ADLs, due to the lack of experience and the knowledge, they are unaware of the options that are accessible to them. Skilled nursing homes supply solutions for patients with complicated medical issues. The problems the residents could have may include mental illnesses such as dementia, physical illnesses like major infections, wound care, IV therapy, tube feeding, and physical/occupational therapy.

There are many attainable alternatives to skilled nursing home care if a senior does not need the 24 hour service from a skilled nurse just to help them prepare a meal. Retirement housing options are abundant across the United States, assisted living, private, manor, or senior living communities are just a few of the facilities offered.

Assisted living is a considerable alternative for elderly people who just need a little help to get them through the day and probably also one of the most common for retired seniors. A great benefit of assisted living is the resident can live in their own home, apartment, or retirement community and have a care-giver come over and cook them lunch or help them get dressed or what ever they need help with to get them through the day. The resident still has their privacy and freedom in the comfort of their own space. Every assisted living home is licensed for one or more levels of care: Supervisor, Personal and Directed. They also are licensed for up to 10 residents. Basically, assisted living homes are homes that provide care for seniors who incapable to live alone and just need help with the ADLs, and do not require skilled nursing home care.

However, if the senior has a lot of problems and needs assistance with medical issues then a skilled nursing home facility is probably their best bet to get the care they need. A skilled care nursing home is required to customarily have other professionals on board to assist with patients needs. A social worker is typically on staff to assist the residents with their emotional problems and arrangements for the patients after care discharge. Occupational and physical therapists work within the structure of care, reporting progress to the doctors and coordinating specifically ordered therapies. The med nurses generally take care of administering the patients medications and prescriptions. Lastly, the activities director who is in charge creating and running social interaction between residents and planning their daily activities.

Individuals contemplating a skilled nursing home should investigate their choices and options of their individual situation before making their decision. There are different types of nursing home care options to choose from such as assisted living nursing homes. Other senior living communities include facilities that provide senior living services in a private nursing home.

By Michelle Oldani

Source: http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27946&Itemid=9

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

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