What is Skilled Nursing Care?

Skilled nursing care communities are often also referred to as nursing homes. The average patient in a nursing home will require either long term nursing care, skilled nursing care, or rehabilitation services. The average patient generally requires round the clock care. A nursing home provides all of the same services that one would find in an assisted living facility, in addition to the medical care services provided.

In addition to assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming, a skilled nursing facility also monitors the activities of their patients around the clock to ensure their personal safety. Because of their advanced state of age, most patients in a nursing home will be unable to position themselves in bed or feed themselves properly. A nursing home will often contain patients who are in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A skilled nursing care facility may be a standalone facility or it may be part of a nursing center or hospital.

The services of a skilled nursing facility are generally required by patients who have suffered from a debilitating injury, acute illness, or who are slow in recovering from a serious surgery. In addition to registered nurses, the staff of a nursing home will often include occupational, physical, and speech therapists. Therapy services can often be used to improve a patient’s condition and quality of life. Their overall medical care will be supervised by a licensed physician.

The accommodations of a skilled nursing center will often have a patient sharing a suite with another patient, but it is possible for an individual to have their own private room. Bathrooms are often shared with one other patient, and most of these facilities have a shower room on each wing of the residence.

How Are Skilled Nursing Facilities Paid For?

The process of actually paying for the services of a nursing home or other skilled nursing facility can actually be quite complex. For a short term stay at a nursing home, the fees associated with one’s care will often be taken care of by Medicare or private health insurance. Typically upon the first visit, if the patient of a nursing home meets certain criteria, then Medicare will cover the first 20 days of their stay 100%. If the patient is required to stay for a longer period than this, then Medicare will cover the next 80 days at only 80% cost. Please contact your Medicare or HMO Supplement representative for full details.

The resident of a skilled nursing facility that must stay long term will generally have the costs of their covered by private funding, MediCal, or long term, health insurance. Veterans and their widows may qualify for additional pensions that will assist in offsetting the costs of a nursing home.

How Are Nursing Homes Regulated?

Because of the complex level of medical services that they provide, skilled nursing facilities are regulated on both a state and Federal level. Within the state of California, nursing homes are licensed and monitored by the state’s Department of Public Health. Additionally, nursing homes must be certified by MediCal and Medicare. There are also certain criteria and licensing standards that staff and administrators of nursing homes must meet. Because of recent regulation changes, CA facilities are now on a grading system. The facilities located in CA are now required to display their current grade at the main entry of the building. The Medicare official website, www.medicare.gov provides a skilled nursing facility comparison tool, which can be invaluable.

 Where Can I Find a Skilled Nursing Facility in My Community?

To speak to a Family Advisor regarding skilled nursing facilities in our community, please call 1-888-700-4322.