Skilled Nursing Facility FAQ
Skilled nursing care facilities are licensed residential healthcare facilities that provide around-the-clock medical care to patients. Skilled nursing care facilities, also called SNFs, provide hospital-level care in a residential, or home-like setting similar to a nursing home.
Skilled nursing facilities offer both short-term rehabilitation services, often after a hospital stay, as well as long-term care for those who need help with the activities of daily living, including constant access to medical staff.
In addition to 24/7 access to medical staff, skilled nursing facilities also provide a number of services and therapies to their patients that you may not find in other types of medical care facilities.
Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about skilled nursing facilities, who may benefit from them, how to choose the best facility for yourself and loved ones, and what families should expect when their loved ones enter a skilled nursing facility.
Common Questions About Skilled Nursing
What Is Skilled Nursing?
Skilled nursing is a level of care provided to patients by licensed nurses and support staff, often under the direction of a physician or physicians. It is similar to the level of care provided in a hospital setting.
Care may be provided long-term for patients with chronic conditions or injuries, or short-term for those who need rehabilitation from an illness or injury.
The range of services may include:
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Medication management
- Wound care
- Post surgical care
- Post-traumatic injury care
Who Can Benefit from Skilled Nursing?
A number of patients can benefit from skilled nursing care, including:
- Seniors with chronic illnesses or mobility challenges.
- Individuals recovering from surgery or injury.
- Patients needing short-term rehab to regain independence.
- Patients needing long-term care for ongoing medical or personal support.
What Services Do Skilled Nursing Facilities Offer?
At Monument Health Group, we offer a wide variety of services and therapies at all of our skilled nursing facilities in Utah, in addition to medical care and nursing supervision.
These include:
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Post-traumatic injury care
- Post-hospital care
- Post-surgical care
- Short-term rehab
- Long-term rehab
Our patients also have access to personal care services, such as:
- On-site beauticians and barbers to keep you looking beautiful.
- Concierge and valet services to manage all aspects of your daily routines.
- Personal support care to assist with personal hygiene, dressing, and other tasks.
- Daily activities and events, such as games, puzzles, and entertainment.
- Social and recreational outings.
With all of our patients, we also provide assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
How Is Skilled Nursing Different from Assisted Living in Utah?
The main difference between assisted living and skilled nursing in Utah is what services are provided and to whom.
Skilled nursing provides 24/7 medical and rehabilitation care. Residents in skilled nursing facilities often need full medical support, as well as support with activities of daily living.
Assisted living focuses on independence with limited medical care and more social opportunities. An assisted living facility may provide support with the activities of daily living, like hygiene and eating, but generally does not provide full-time nursing and medical care.
What’s the Difference Between Short-Term Rehab and Long-Term Care?
Skilled nursing facilities often provide two primary types of care: short-term rehabilitation and long-term care.
- Short-term rehab: This type of care focuses on recovery from illness, injury, or surgery. The goal is to return patients to independence through various therapies. Often this type of care is referred to as a bridge between hospital and home.
- Long-term care: This type of care provides ongoing assistance with daily living and supervision for chronic conditions or cognitive decline. This type of care is often indefinite.
How Often Will Staff Work With Residents?
The frequency that staff work with residents is dependent on individual care plans created with you by doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Some residents may need more assistance and others less.
Rehab therapies may occur multiple times per week or daily, and patients may receive multiple types of therapies or rehabilitation at the same time.
In all skilled nursing facilities, nurses are typically available 24/7 for ongoing medical needs, and the medical team is often overseen by a physician.
Do Residents Need To Bring Their Medications?
Yes, all residents should bring their current prescriptions. Facility staff will help coordinate refills and medication management.
How Are Care Plans Developed?
Physicians, nurses, and rehab specialists will work with you or your loved one to create individualized care plans for your unique needs. These plans are updated regularly based on progress, changing needs, and other factors.
Who Can Stay in a Skilled Nursing Facility?
People of all ages recovering from illness or injury can benefit from skilled nursing. Seniors needing medical supervision or assistance with daily activities are also good candidates, especially if they need 24/7 access to medical care.
Anyone requiring temporary or long-term rehab care may be a good candidate for a skilled nursing facility.
What Should Families Expect?
At Monument Health Group, families should expect regular updates on care and progress of their loved ones. They should also look forward to opportunities to participate in care planning to ensure their loved ones are getting the service they deserve. At Monument Health Group, we appreciate all input from families.
You can also expect engagement in social and recreational activities with residents. We recognize families and friends are crucial to the health or our residents and encourage all participation.
Tips for Choosing a Skilled Nursing Facility
The first thing you should always ensure is that the facility is licensed and accredited by the state of Utah. Any facility that is not is operating outside of the law.
You should also review the range of services and rehab options offered. You should consider the amenities, activities, and overall resident satisfaction as well.
One of the most important numbers in any facility is the staff-to-resident ratio. More staff per resident is almost always better. Finally, you should inquire about the availability of different types of care available at the same facility, should your loved one need a different level of care.
How Does Monument Health Group’s Skilled Nursing Care Differ From Others in Utah?
Monument Health Group has 11 convenient locations to serve Utahns.
You can find us in:
- Millcreek
- Bountiful
- Canyon Rim
- Brigham City
- South Salt Lake
- Pioneer Trail
- American Fork
- Murray Creek
- Stone Creek
- Taylorsville
- Cottonwood Creek
We also accept most major health insurance carriers, and in many cases, private rooms are available. We also happily accept Medicare and Medicaid for those who qualify. The care plans we provide our residents are always personalized and are made in conjunction with any pre-existing medical staff your or your loved ones may have.
At Monument Health Group, our staff is the jewel of our organization. They are highly trained, compassionate, and provide rapid response to any issues. At our skilled nursing facilities, we offer 24-hour a day nursing care, and our residents and staff are often overseen by a physician. Our staff is truly world class.
Our range of therapies and services are also unmatched and include speech, occupational, and physical therapies, as well as numerous other rehabilitation and recreation offerings. We are also proud to offer numerous personal care services as well that help our residents stay more than just medically healthy.
Finally, we provide both short- and long-term care, ensuring your loved ones receive the care they need, where they are.
Need Compassionate Skilled Nursing in Utah? Think Monument Health Group
The importance of choosing the right facility for medical and personal needs cannot be understated. Medical emergencies and long-term care can be trying times and you shouldn’t have to worry about those providing your care. We believe we provide the best skilled nursing care in the entirety of Utah.
If you have further questions, or would like to take a tour, please give us a call now. We will be happy to explore care options for you or your loved one.