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.
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
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 they want. 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.
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.