What Is the Difference Between Short-Term and Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care?
When a loved one’s medical condition is no longer manageable at home, families often begin to look for skilled nursing care options. Understanding the subtle differences between long-term skilled nursing care and short-term skilled nursing care is crucial so you can make an informed decision about the right type of care. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Skilled Nursing Care?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, skilled care is medically necessary care that is provided by or under the supervision of trained medical staff (such as a nurse, therapist, or doctor). Skilled nursing care is meant to provide medical care to manage, treat, and observe various medical conditions.
Services of skilled nursing care often include:
- Medication management
- Wound care
- Rehabilitation services, such as respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
- Post-traumatic injury care
- Access to meals
- Assistance with daily activities
Short-Term Skilled Nursing Care
Short-term skilled nursing care is meant for patients who are medically stable enough to leave the hospital but still require assistance to fully recover. A short-term stay at a skilled nursing facility is meant to provide patients with medical care, assistance with daily activities, and rehabilitation services as they are recovering from an injury, illness, or major surgery.
The goal of short-term care is for patients to regain their ability to resume their normal daily routines independently. The length of a typical stay varies depending on the extent of the patient’s medical condition.
Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care
Long-term skilled nursing care is meant for patients with advanced health needs and/or an ongoing need for medical care to treat a chronic condition. In many cases, this type of care is provided at a nursing home or another type of care home (depending on the severity of the condition).
Long-term care provides patients with a higher level of personal care over time with an emphasis on stability, comfort, and maintaining their quality of life. Services in a long-term skilled nursing facility have a higher level of services for daily personal care, mobility assistance, and medication management.
Key Differences Between Short-Term and Long-Term Care
Length of Stay
Short-term care at a skilled nursing facility is meant to only last for a few weeks to a few months (depending on the severity of the condition the patient is recovering from). Whereas long-term care is generally required for an extended period or for the rest of a patient’s life.
Type of Care
Short-term care is focused on healing and rehabilitation, whereas long-term care is focused more on managing chronic conditions.
Level of Care Required
Short-term skilled nursing care is meant to be transitional support for healing and rehabilitation. Whereas long-term skilled nursing care is designed for patients who require continuous medical supervision for an extensive amount of time.
Cost and Insurance Differences
Long-term care is going to cost more than short-term care, both because of the duration of the stay and due to insurance and Medicare coverage (or lack thereof). For example, most health insurance coverage and Medicare do not cover long-term care, although you may be able to qualify for some coverage under secondary insurance coverage through Medicaid.
Whereas, Medicare will cover the first 20 days of a stay at a skilled nursing facility at no cost for the patient for a qualifying stay. And, for patients requiring a longer stay, Medicare covers some of the cost for the next 80 days. See your specific plan for details.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Care in Utah
The first thing to do when addressing the need for additional care is to determine the appropriate level of care. For example, would a short-term stay for rehabilitation be appropriate in this situation, or is the medical condition and situation going to require a more long-term solution?
To help families make informed choices about their loved one’s care, when choosing a long-term skilled nursing care facility, the National Institute on Aging recommends:
- Determining what is best for the patient’s medical condition (based on individual needs and medical advice).
- Considering the level of care that will be required.
- Visiting facilities to fully understand the level of care, the available services, the comfort level, and how the staff interact with patients.
- Discussing financing with individual facilities to fully understand your options for care.
Consider a Monument Health Group Skilled Nursing Facility
Monument Health Group has eleven facilities located in Utah that provide individualized skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. While short-term care and rehabilitation are the primary focus, Monument Health Group has options for long-term care as well.
Whether you require long-term skilled nursing care for a more permanent solution to an ongoing medical condition or merely require a short respite at a skilled nursing facility to recover from an illness, injury, or major surgery, it’s important to know the differences and what your options are.
If you’re exploring your options for this type of care, consult your healthcare professionals and local facilities throughout Utah. For those unfamiliar with their next steps, contact Monument Health Group to ask about services that can help.
Sources:
Glossary. (2020).
How To Choose a Nursing Home or Other Long-Term Care Facility. (2023).
Long-term care. (n.d.).
Skilled nursing facility care. (n.d.).
