When the topic of senior living options and senior care services arises, one of the first phrases to come to mind is “nursing home.” This is often because nursing homes were one of the few residential care options available for seniors who needed some degree of supervised care.
However, the landscape of senior living has evolved dramatically and now offers a spectrum of options. From independent living to assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, seniors now have a wealth of choices when seeking support.
So, what’s the difference between skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes? In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive definition of each and illuminate the differences in the level of care offered by skilled nursing vs. nursing homes, with a focus on the refined and personalized care experiences available in upscale senior living communities.
What Is a Nursing Home?
A nursing home is a senior living community that offers a certain degree of supervised care to its residents on a long-term basis. Nursing home care often provides assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation and activities. A resident can also receive help with medication management and other basic needs.
Nursing home care is provided by nurse aids and licensed practical nurses under the supervision of registered nurses. There are not typically doctors on-site for this level of residential care. The purpose is to provide a safe, comfortable, and caring space for seniors who are unable to live an entirely independent lifestyle.
Along with the activities of daily living listed above, some of the care services provided by nursing homes include:
- General care, such as oxygen tank management, eye drops, and vitamins
- 24-hour supervision
- Social and recreational activities
- Transportation services
- Housekeeping
What Is a Skilled Nursing Facility?
Unlike a nursing home, which is considered a type of senior living residence, skilled nursing is a type of care service for seniors. This can be provided in a dedicated space, called a skilled nursing facility or SNF, or as a part of supported living services at a senior community. Usually, a person requires skilled nursing care after a hospital stay to continue their recovery from an injury, illness, or surgery. The patient is well enough to leave the hospital, but not well enough to continue recovery independently at home.
Skilled nursing care is provided by registered nurses, licensed nurses, and nursing assistants under the supervision of a doctor. It’s considered transitional care, or short-term care, with the goal of gaining health, strength, and mobility through a carefully planned course of care services.
Skilled nursing may include rehabilitative services, such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Skilled nursing care providers are also trained to use specialized medical equipment unavailable in traditional nursing homes.
Along with the increased level of care provided by a skilled nursing facility, caregivers make it a priority to have the experience be far more enjoyable than a hospital stay could be. This may include a dedicated activities coordinator who organizes social events. An active and satisfying social life during recovery makes residents happier and has been proven to improve health outcomes.
Skilled nursing care at exceptional senior living communities may include:
- Planning and managing resident care with family input
- Giving injections
- Inserting and maintaining catheters and feeding tubes
- Using aspiration devices
- Wound care
- Pain management
Medicaid Coverage for Skilled Nursing & Government Regulation
Another distinction between skilled nursing vs. nursing home care is government oversight and regulation. The Department of Health regulates both nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, skilled nursing facilities are subjected to more comprehensive evaluations because of the increased level of care and expertise provided there. This added scrutiny ensures that you or your loved one will receive quality specialized care. Certified Medicaid and Medicare skilled nursing facilities may also provide financial coverage for care.
How To Transition to Skilled Nursing Care
If you or your loved one is about to be discharged from the hospital but will still need medical or rehabilitative care, it’s important to be admitted into a skilled nursing facility before being discharged from the hospital. The recommendation by a doctor, the approval process, and the availability of an opening can take some time and planning.
Skilled Nursing Care at Beacon Hill
In Lombard, IL, the specially trained professionals at Beacon Hill Senior Living Community are dedicated to the rehabilitation, continuing care, and overall wellness of residents 24 hours a day. With an individualized care plan that never forgets the whole person, you or your loved one will be in attentive, compassionate, expert hands.
To learn more about the skilled nursing care at Beacon Hill, fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.