Understanding Skilled Nursing Care

If you or your loved one has recently experienced a serious health scare such as surgery, a stroke, or a fall, you may need skilled nursing care after leaving the hospital. 

Skilled nursing care is most often a type of short-term care that involves a stay in a care home under the supervision of trained medical professionals like doctors and nurses. It’s typically delivered in a skilled nursing facility where patients receive 24-hour medical supervision, therapy, and support designed to get them back home as healthy as possible. 

While this type of care is most often short-term, in some instances long-term care may be appropriate for some people.

In either case, you’re not alone. Monument Health Group is here to help. 

What Is Skilled Nursing Care?

Skilled nursing care is medical care provided by licensed professionals under physician supervision. These services are more intensive than those offered in assisted living or home care, and they are often part of a short-term rehabilitation plan following a hospital stay.

It’s important to understand that “skilled” care goes beyond help with bathing, dressing, or meals. Instead, it involves clinical support, such as traumatic wound recovery, IV therapy, medication management, post acute care, and physical therapy.

The most common care setting for skilled nursing care is at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). In the past, these were sometimes referred to as nursing homes, but facilities like those at Monument Health Group take a modern, rehabilitative focus to skilled nursing care that often lacked in the past. 

Who Needs Skilled Nursing Care And When?

Skilled nursing care is most often recommended for people who require daily medical oversight and rehabilitation services that cannot be managed at home. For short-term rehabilitation, this is often after a hospital stay. 

Common scenarios include: 

• Recovery from surgery or hospitalization: When it comes to short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care is most often for those exiting the hospital, and acts as a bridge between hospital and home. Common procedures are joint replacements, cardiac surgery, and other major operations. 
• Stroke rehabilitation: When recovering from a stroke, patients can often benefit from therapies like speech and mobility therapies offered at SNFs. 
• Ongoing wound care or IV therapy: Those who need wound care or IV therapy will need assistance from skilled nursing care to help monitor them.
• Management of chronic illnesses: Those who need long-term care at SNFs are often suffering from chronic illnesses that need regular medical attention like COPD or diabetes complications. 

To begin SNF services, a physician’s order is often needed.

Services Provided In A Skilled Nursing Facility

Medical And Therapeutic Services 

Skilled nursing facilities offer around-the-clock access to licensed nurses and healthcare professionals. 

Services typically include:

• 24/7 registered nursing care
• Medication management
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Pain management
• Post-surgical care and monitoring

Personalized Recovery Plans

Care in a skilled nursing setting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, residents receive individualized treatment plans developed by a team of professionals and can include: 

• Individualized treatment goals
• Multidisciplinary care team coordination (nurses, therapists, physicians)
• Family involvement in care planning

Comfort And Daily Living Support

While the primary focus is medical care, SNFs also offer a supportive environment for day-to-day living. 

Support includes: 

• Assistance with daily tasks like dressing and mobility
• Nutritious meals, social activities, and emotional support
• A safe, health-focused environment

Skilled Nursing vs. Other Care Options

Skilled Nursing vs. Assisted Living 

Assisted living offers help with daily activities and independence but not 24/7 medical oversight. Skilled nursing is typically short-term and medically intensive. Skilled nursing care is for people who need direct oversight from medical professionals 24 hours a day, but do not need the level of care a hospital provides. 

Skilled Nursing vs. In-Home Care 

While in-home care can be effective for mild care needs, in-home services are typically limited in scope and duration. In-home care typically offers limited hours of care, and is dependent on a home setting. Skilled nursing facilities, on the other hand, offer comprehensive, full-time care in a structured and supervised setting.

Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation: What’s The Link? 

Many skilled nursing facilities, like many of ours at Monument Health Group, are rehabilitative in nature. Short-term rehab is often provided within SNFs, helping patients regain strength and independence after surgery or illness. The objective is always to support a safe, successful return to home, unless long-term care becomes necessary.

What To Look For In A Skilled Nursing Provider

Choosing the right skilled nursing facility is essential to your or your loved one’s recovery. Here are key factors to consider:

• Clinical credentials and Medicare certification
• Experience with specific conditions (e.g. orthopedic recovery, stroke rehab)
• Positive reviews and reputation
• Clean, comfortable environment and compassionate staff
• Patient-to-staff ratio, safety record, and communication standards

At Monument Health Group, we take pride in excelling at all of these standards.

Skilled Nursing Care At Monument Health Group

Monument Health Group offers comprehensive skilled nursing services in a setting designed for healing and comfort. Our approach combines expert medical care with a personalized recovery plan tailored to each resident’s needs and goals. 

We are committed to compassionate care, delivered by a team of licensed nurses, therapists, and physicians who understand the challenges of recovery. Our modern facilities include state-of-the-art rehab equipment, comfortable accommodations, and enriching daily activities.

Whether your loved one is transitioning from a hospital stay, or requires ongoing support for a chronic condition, Monument Health Group ensures a clear and healthy path forward.

Clarity And Confidence In Care Decisions

Navigating the care landscape can feel overwhelming, but understanding skilled nursing is a powerful first step. It equips you to make decisions based on your loved one’s health needs rather than guesswork.

At Monument Health Group, we recognize the emotional weight of choosing the right care option. That’s why we’re committed to providing clear answers, compassionate guidance, and exceptional care every step of the way.