Skilled Nursing and Therapy in Senior Living Communities

When people talk about senior living communities and the variety of programs, amenities, and services they provide residents, they often mention skilled nursing and therapy. If you’ve wondered what those terms mean and what these services entail, here is a quick breakdown so you feel more equipped to know what care you want in the future. Just keep in mind that while Medicare and Medicaid cover various areas of senior living, you’ll want to review your plan to see how skilled nursing and therapy is covered.

What is Skilled Nursing?

Skilled Nursing is a supportive environment that provides comprehensive medical and rehabilitative care, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy. If you’ve had surgery, injury, serious illness, or chronic conditions, skilled nursing offers 24/7 care and medical resources in your desired home setting. Skilled nursing associates often consist of:

• Audiologists
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Medical Directors
• Nursing Assistants
• Nutritionists
• Registered Nurses
• Social Workers
• Speech-language Pathologists
• Vocational Nurses

Short-term Care vs. Long-term Care

Patients can receive short-term care, which focuses on temporary recovery and rehabilitation to reclaim independence after an accident, illness, or injury and provides programs such as:

• Cardiac care
• Diabetes care
• Intravenous therapy
• Nutrition therapy
• Orthopedic care
• Pain management
• Pulmonary care
• Stroke recovery care
• Transplant care
• Wound care

Patients can alternatively receive long-term care if 24/7 nursing care and access to a variety of occupational, physical, and speech therapies are needed.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehabilitation

If you’ve had a serious injury, you’ll need to recover with a form of therapy that works best for your needs.

Inpatient Rehabilitation takes place in assisted care, senior rehabilitation care, or skilled nursing facilities, so the patient doesn’t have to worry about transportation, home workouts, meals, or housekeeping. Since the patient receives abundant accessible help from the staff, they can have as many therapy sessions as needed. This creates a more integrated and intense experience that offers more concrete results in less time. This type of rehabilitation is usually for more serious conditions that require a team of professionals, such as:

• Aneurysm
• Arthritis of the spine and other joints
• COPD
• Fracture or broken bones
• Heart attack
• Joint injury or replacement
• Nerve impingement
• Neurological conditions
• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke
• Tumor or cancer

Outpatient Rehabilitation takes place from the comfort of home so the patient can enjoy freedom and at-home care. However, there’s more responsibility on the patient to ensure recommended workouts are being taken care of on your own time. This type of therapy is for improving mobility and quality of life after an injury so you can return to your normal activities. Keep in mind that with this type of therapy, you or your loved one would be in charge of the following:

• Domestic duties and home improvements for safety and accessibility
• Meal preparation and cleanup
• Medical and therapeutic session planning and management
• Medication administration
• Personal hygiene
• Traveling to and from appointment sessions
• Wound treatment

What’s the Difference Between Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy?

When we talk about therapy, there are three distinct types that may coincide with one another but actually have very particular focuses and goals for helping the patient.

• Physical Therapy is designed for patients after an illness, surgery, or certain injuries to minimize pain and restore function and mobility by utilizing massage, exercise, and stretches to improve alignment and flexibility.
• Occupational Therapy helps patients become more independent in performing daily activities after an illness or injury.
• Speech Therapy improves a patient’s language, communication, and swallowing after an injury or illness, such as aphasia, cognitive-linguistic impairments, and dysphagia.

Discharge After a Skilled Nursing Rehab Stay

After a rehab stay, you probably want to get back home to do the things you’re used to. But don’t be surprised if you need additional services to help get you back to normal. During your rehab stay, you’ll work with a clinical team to help you heal and recover. They will also help you plan your discharge home:

• Post-Stay Appointments: You’ll work with the facility staff to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician after your discharge. This also allows for more informed decisions about your future care.
• Post-discharge Continued Services: Continued services may be recommended to help you gain maximum independence upon returning home.
• Therapy: There are several options for where therapy can take place, including outpatient therapy facilities or your own home depending on what you need. These therapy sessions are generally less frequent than those in a skilled nursing setting. Some facilities offer outpatient therapy options upon discharge and continuing treatment with the professionals you’ve established a relationship with.
• Home Health Services: If you need help with daily activities, you might consider home health services upon discharge. In order to qualify for home health services through insurance, you must meet the “home-bound” requirement from Medicare.   
• Additional Strengthening: After outpatient therapy, consider joining a fitness center. By continuing to strengthen the affected area, you may increase the range of motion and reduce the risk of further injury. The best way to have a positive outcome from a rehab stay is to follow professional recommendations.

If you’re looking for a senior living community that offers skilled nursing and therapy services, those are included in all our locations.

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.