Skilled Nursing Facility FAQ

Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provide expert medical and personal care for those recovering from illness or injury.

Skilled nursing facilities in Utah provide patients with short- and long-term care that promotes their recovery.

What Is a Skilled Nursing Facility? 

Skilled nursing facilities are medical facilities where patients receive short- and long-term medical treatment for illnesses or injuries that prevent them from living independently. Skilled nursing facilities have licensed medical professionals on-site to provide 24/7 care to patients.

Hospitals provide urgent care to stabilize patients, while skilled nursing facilities are residential facilities that specialize in recovery treatment and primarily treat older adults after they’re discharged from the hospital. SNFs are designed to be comfortable residences where patients can receive short- and long-term care until they can return home and live independently. 

Monument Health Group’s skilled nursing facilities provide exceptional skilled nursing care. We have facilities in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah. 

What Is Skilled Nursing?

Skilled nursing care is comparable to the level of medical care provided by hospitals. Physicians oversee patients’ treatment plans, and registered nurses and licensed therapists implement the doctor’s orders to promote patient recovery. 

Skilled nursing facilities treat patients with chronic illnesses who need long-term care, those leaving the hospital after treatment or surgery who need post-acute care, and provide short-term care to those recovering from injury or illness. Treatment plans emphasize rehabilitation to help patients regain independence. 

Treatment plans vary based on the needs of each individual, and services may include the following:

• Medication management
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Post-hospital care
• Post-surgical care
• Post-traumatic injury care
• Speech therapy
• Wound care

Who Can Benefit From Skilled Nursing Care?

Skilled nursing facilities provide older adults with specialized care required because of health issues that prevent them from living independently. 

Older adults who benefit from skilled nursing care include the following:

• Individuals needing post-acute care: An individual may be discharged from the hospital but unable to care for themselves independently during recovery. Post-acute care provides expert medical care in a residential environment where patients live until they’re able to return home. 
• Individuals requiring short-term rehabilitation: Short-term rehabilitation is for those affected by illness or injury. Individuals recovering from a stroke or pneumonia are examples of those who may need short-term rehabilitation. 
• Individuals with chronic illnesses: Chronic illnesses are long-term illnesses that often require ongoing medical care. Examples include arthritis, cancer, and diabetes. Patients with chronic illnesses may need long-term medical care and may not be able to manage daily living tasks without assistance.
• Individuals unable to live independently: Older individuals at risk of falls or unable to perform daily living tasks without assistance can receive short-term care at a skilled nursing facility. 
• Individuals who need medication management: Individuals may need assistance at a skilled nursing facility while adjusting to new medications, learning to follow their medication schedule, or learning to manage chronic health conditions. 

What Services Do Skilled Nursing Facilities Specialize In? 

Skilled nursing facilities specialize in providing patients with expert medical care and rehabilitative treatments. 

Services may include the following:

• Medication management: Licensed medication technicians or registered nurses provide patients with the right amount of the correct medication at the right times.
• Occupational therapy: Licensed occupational therapists use exercises to teach individuals how to use assistive devices or regain their fine motor skills so they can independently perform routine tasks, which include bathing, dressing, and eating.
• Physical therapy: Licensed physical therapists focus on gross motor skills and pain management. They use exercises to help patients regain their ability to walk, improve their balance, and learn to use assistive devices, such as walkers. 
• Speech therapy: Licensed speech therapists help patients regain their ability to speak and swallow. Speech therapy may be needed after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. 
• Wound care: Licensed or registered nurses clean wounds, change dressings, and teach patients how to care for their wounds to prevent reinjury or infection. Patients may receive post-acute, short-term rehabilitative, or long-term residential care.
• Long-term residential care: Skilled nursing facilities offer long-term care in a residential environment to patients who need several months to regain their independence. 
• Post-acute care: Individuals may need post-acute care after hospital discharge. Post-acute care is suitable for those recovering from illnesses, such as pneumonia or those needing post-traumatic injury care for injuries, such as a broken leg. 
• Short-term rehabilitation: Patients recovering from an illness or injury may be able to meet treatment goals with short-term rehabilitation. Short-term rehabilitation is transitional care designed to help patients regain their independence.

What’s the Difference Between Short-Term and Long-Term Care?

The differences between short-term and long-term care include the typical reasons for care, the duration of treatment, and the type of treatment provided.

Long-Term Care 

Reasons patients need long-term care include chronic health issues, such as a stroke, and the inability to perform daily living tasks independently. A person recovering from a stroke may need care for several months or years, which qualifies as long-term care. 

Long-term care typically focuses on helping patients regain the ability to dress or eat without assistance and perform other daily living tasks independently. Individuals with diabetes or other chronic health issues may be taught how to manage their condition with diet, exercise, and medication.

Short-Term Care

Patients may need short-term care while recovering from surgery, an illness, or an injury. Short-term care includes post-acute care for those who were hospitalized. Individuals may need short-term care for a few days or a few weeks. Short-term care can involve wound care, medication management, and rehabilitative services, such as occupational or physical therapy.

Monument Health Group’s skilled nursing facilities in Utah provide short- and long-term care to patients. Our medical teams provide personalized treatment plans for all patients in our facilities, enabling patients to receive the short- or long-term care they need.

How Is Skilled Nursing Different From Assisted Living in Utah?

Skilled nursing facilities provide around-the-clock medical supervision to those needing short- and long-term rehabilitative therapy and medical care. Assisted living facilities provide long-term residential care for individuals who do not require 24/7 medical supervision. Staff provide basic assistance with daily living activities as needed, and prioritize offering residents activities and opportunities for social engagement. 

If your loved one needs help with wound care, medication management, or recovery from an illness or injury, a skilled nursing facility in Utah can provide the care they need. If your loved one needs basic assistance with routine tasks, such as bathing, but does not need around-the-clock medical care, an assisted living facility may be the ideal environment for them. 

What Should Families Expect From Skilled Nursing Facilities in Utah?

Exceptional skilled nursing facilities in Utah provide comfortable residential environments offering daily meals, rehabilitative therapies, medical care, support, activities, and opportunities for social engagement. Skilled nursing environments are warm and homey.

Skilled nursing facilities specialize in collaborative care. Families also enjoy the open communication with medical staff as they develop care plans. They can be involved with the implementation of treatment, receive progress reports from staff, and are encouraged to visit. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Skilled Nursing Facility in Utah

When choosing a skilled nursing facility in Utah, you should consider the following:

• Amenities: What amenities do they offer to make residents feel at home?
• Licensing and accreditation: Does the nursing facility have the credentials required to operate?
• Location: Is the facility near family or friends who may wish to visit, or in an area familiar to your loved one?
• Services: Does the facility provide post-acute and long-term care? Do they offer short-term rehabilitative therapies, such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy? Do they provide specialized medical services, such as wound care and medication management?
• Staffing ratios: What is the ratio of staff to residents? 

Monument Health Group has 11 locations throughout Utah offering expert post-acute, long-term, and short-term medical care. Our facilities meet the highest standards of skilled nursing care. 

Why Choose Monument Health Group? 

Monument Health Group’s skilled nursing facilities in Utah are known for the following:

• Clear communication and collaboration with family members.
• Compassionate care.
• Comprehensive rehabilitative services, including occupational, physical, and speech therapy, post-traumatic injury care, and post-acute care.
• Long- and short-term care. 
• Medical expertise from highly qualified and experienced medical professionals.
• Personalized treatment plans.
• Professionalism.

Monument Health Group has 11 skilled nursing facilities in Utah, ensuring you can find the expert care your loved one needs in a suitable location. Payment options include Medicare and Medicaid, and we offer private rooms. 

Compassionate, Comprehensive Skilled Nursing Care in Utah

Monument Health Group is committed to providing older adults with short-term and long-term skilled nursing care at our exceptional facilities in Utah. Our team is available to answer questions you may have about our services. 

Please get in touch with us for a tour if you’re looking for a skilled nursing facility for your loved one. We’ll show you our facilities, highlight the amenities we offer, and explain how we deliver patient-centered care to ensure each patient receives the rehabilitative and medical services they need. 

Whether your loved one needs long-term care to manage a chronic health condition or short-term rehabilitation to recover from an injury, our team will provide the treatment they need to promote their recovery.