Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation: What Happens Inside?

| Monday, October 15, 2012
By Barry Friedman


Some people are faced with sending an elderly parent or loved one to a nursing home. This happens when caring for them at home becomes too challenging due to health complications. Lots of people, however, don't think about what actually goes on in a skilled nursing facility until things progress to this point.

Skilled nursing patients in need of health services or rehabilitation may opt for long or short stays in a nursing home. Family and friends may visit their loved one in the nursing facility as the patient progresses on his or her rehabilitation plan. If the patient is ill then he or she may be provided IV medication or put on hospice care.

As people age, they may become more susceptible to serious illness, wounds or persistent health complications. Some individuals also require physical rehabilitation after certain surgical procedures, such as hip and knee replacements. A skilled nursing facility is staffed with highly trained individuals from various disciplines. These skilled team members must coordinate individualized care plans for each resident.The process of providing nursing care requires a nursing staff who are able to perform a wide variety of care services. Nursing homes must provide care for their residents everyday, around the clock. These various teams must keep accurate documentation on each patient in order to keep the following shift informed.

All facilities are state regulated and must pass various testing procedures as required by the department of Health and Human Services in that state. Some of these tests cover issues like, cleanliness of the facility, quality of care being provided and accurate documentation on patients. Facilities that receive higher ratings tend to earn more trust from the community.

Assisted living facilities and home care options are not best suited to provide proper care for complex health issues. Falling risks and diseases like Alzheimer's, dementia and diabetic complications are more appropriate for care in a nursing home.

Nursing homes usually offer social services and other activities along with some basics like, laundry and minimal transportation. The rehabilitation and nursing staff provide various skills and procedures such as, wound care, dementia and diabetic care, IV medication, pain management and physical rehab services like, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy.

All residents are professionally assessed and an individual care plan is developed. Every employee at a nursing care center must provide compassionate care. With the support of all nursing and rehabilitation staff, every patient should be inspired to reach their goals.




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1 comments:

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