Five Benefits of Living in a Skilled Nursing Facility
Entering the golden years of your life means making a lot of new decisions and the opportunity to take advantage of new opportunities. Selecting the right living arrangement is one of the most important decisions you will make. Luckily for seniors in the U.S., there are a number of different options that fit a variety of situations. Some families will look for communities that offer care after hospitalization, others will be wondering about the advantages of nursing homes and still other families will be exploring ways to keep a senior loved one at home for as long as possible.
The first step in selecting the right living environment is to understand what options are available. Here are the main types of communities that may be of interest:
- Skilled Nursing Community. These facilities provide a range of personal services and medical care options. Largely focused on health care, these communities can serve people for a short time – after surgery during rehabilitation, for example – or long term.
- Assisted Living Community. These communities are right for a person who requires assistance in daily tasks, but who is still largely independent.
- Senior Living Community. This type of community serves people who are largely independent and need little assistance to complete daily tasks.
- Memory Care Community. These communities specialize in caring for people with diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
- Continuing Care Retirement Community. CCRCs offer recreation and daily living support. These communities usually have different levels of care available at one location.
Once you understand the benefits of each type of living environment and assess your needs or the needs of your senior loved one, you will be able to make an educated decision regarding future living arrangements.
Care After Hospitalization
When you are recovering from an illness or a surgery, there are many decisions to make regarding care during recovery. Generally, your physician or surgeon will discuss plans for care after hospitalization. A variety of options may be presented, or your medical team may feel strongly about moving you from the hospital to an inpatient, skilled nursing facility. Here are a few tips for deciding on where to receive care after hospitalization:
- If your surgery is scheduled in advance, you will have the opportunity to explore your options and even make visits to different facilities.
- Be sure to understand what type of therapies are offered at the facility you select.
- Ensure the services provided align with your long-term health goals.
- Ask how health goals are tracked at the facility and be sure it makes sense to you.
At communities like Northland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, patients and families can rest comfortably knowing an experienced team is following an individualized care plan to help you reach your rehabilitation goals. The Northland team is committed to providing rehabilitative and therapeutic services to help each resident reclaim the best possible quality of life.
Five Benefits of Living in a Skilled Nursing Facility
The term ‘skilled nursing’ refers to a level of care that can only be performed by licensed nurses, not caretakers. For patients who choose Northland Rehabilitation, or another skilled nursing facility (SNF), the advantages of a skilled nursing facility include physical, medical and emotional support services. If you are considering an SNF, here are five benefits of living in a skilled nursing facility:
- In-house activities and therapies. Keeping your body moving is an important aspect of remaining healthy as you age. After a long illness or a serious injury, many seniors tend to become less active or worry about resuming their active lifestyle. An SNF can provide exercise programs and therapy services to help you return to the activities you love in a safe way.
- Medication management. Many seniors struggle to keep their medication straight in a healthy, safe way. During your time at an SNF, you will have assistance managing medications, including having access to medication management experts who can help put a program in place to assist you in the future.
- Social outlets. Living without social engagement can bring on feelings of isolation or depression. At a skilled nursing facility, the team will help you find activities you enjoy with people who share your interests.
- Nutrition support. Maintaining a healthy diet is important at any age. During recovery after an illness or injury, it is vital to regaining your strength and independence. At SNFs, like Northland Rehabilitation, the dietitians and chefs provide healthy, flavorful snacks and meals to support your rehab goals.
- Peace of mind. While most SNFs allow family to visit, you will not be with your loved one every minute of the day. Understanding the experience and expertise of the SNF team allows you to relax with the knowledge that you are well-cared for and supported at all times.
Finding Care and Comfort
When exploring the advantages of a skilled nursing facility, you want to feel that your concerns are addressed and your needs, or the needs of your loved one, will be met. “Supporting your loved one’s health goals is our top priority. We work closely with our residents’ medical teams and we have a team on-site who is experienced in helping seniors manage each step of their recovery journey and return to a life they love,” says Brenda Brandl, Vice President of Clinical Operations for Tutera Senior Living Communities.
Contact Northland Rehabilitation, a Tutera facility, to schedule a tour and learn more about our services and amenities.