When a hospital discharge planner determines that your loved one needs a gradual road to recovery or cannot return home yet due to medical complications, they may be transferred to a skilled nursing facility.
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a short-term care option with around-the-clock medical assistance and rehabilitation services to help your loved one regain strength, mobility, and independence.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is an essential component of skilled nursing care. It focuses on improving movement, managing symptoms like pain and stiffness, and helping people move in ways that help them feel safe and confident, whether they are dealing with a health condition or getting older.
PT in SNFs is typically provided for short-term residents discharged from the hospital after an injury or illness who need rehabilitation before returning home. PT teams work closely with physicians to design individualized care plans to build strength and endurance, improve flexibility, and enhance coordination.
A robust PT program can help reduce pain, improve mobility, and increase or maintain independence, factors impacting the quality of life for people receiving long-term care. In addition, PT can also help manage the effects of certain degenerative diseases that affect the elderly, such as arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.
Dietary Services
A vital part of a skilled nursing facility Missouri is care on nutrition. Dieticians and nutritionists design meals to meet patient’s specific dietary needs, and they work to address factors such as a loss of appetite or the market for food to be prepared in ways that are easier to chew and swallow.
In addition to providing nutritious meals, long-term skilled nursing communities like Brunswick Cove offer various social activities that help residents stay active and engaged. This is in addition to around-the-clock access to nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. This is a significant advantage for seniors who need help recovering from illness, injury, or surgery. It can also help prevent rehospitalization and help families manage health-related costs. It can also help seniors maintain their independence as they transition home.
Occupational Therapy
OT practitioners focus on assisting clients to develop skills and abilities that help them feel productive, achieve their goals, and live well. This includes helping them adapt to their new reality, such as recommending and teaching adaptive equipment like shower chairs or walkers, educating them on energy conservation and task simplification, and providing various leisure and physical activities.
For those discharged from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility for subacute rehab, a standard treatment approach is a short-term stay with daily therapy. Those individuals typically receive 65 minutes of OT daily, five days a week.
When considering a facility, Pierman suggests interviewing hospital therapists who have worked with a particular provider and touring the facility multiple times during the day and evening. She also warns against facilities with ultra-high productivity standards, which can lead to burnout.
Speech Therapy
Speech-Language Pathologists, or SLPs, treat various swallowing and communication issues in skilled care nursing facilities. Some physical signs SLPs might notice that indicate a person may need additional help include difficulty eating, loss of appetite, frequent coughing during or after meals, and a sudden change in swallowing abilities.
In addition, SLPs also work with patients who experience cognitive changes such as confusion, memory loss, or difficulty communicating. They communicate with dietary and nursing staff to adjust diets for necessary swallowing improvements. They also work with patients who experience cognitive issues to improve verbal expression and articulation.
Respite Care
Caring for a loved one daily can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Respite care allows caregivers to take a break from their responsibilities for a few hours, days, or weeks. This allows the caregiver to maintain their health and well-being, which helps them continue caring for the person in their care.
Upon discharge from the hospital, patients who cannot go home or need more care than the hospital can provide are often sent to skilled nursing and rehab facilities. Understanding the differences between these two types of facilities can help you and your loved ones make an informed decision for recovery.
Skilled nursing is custodial care given by trained professionals to individuals who require around-the-clock monitoring and medical treatment due to illness or injury. This may include wound care, injections, intravenous therapy, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies.