After a hospital stays due to an accident, a fall, or an illness, seniors may need a high level of medical care for a quick recovery. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a good fit for those who are recuperating from surgery and require 24×7 medical assistance through trained nurses and doctors. According to a report, there are 15,655 skilled nursing facilities in the US providing care to patients with a range of health issues.
Here in this post, we’ll give you an overview of skilled nursing:
Who should go to an SNF?
An SNF is a good option for those living in close proximity and are without families. If a person had a serious health problem like strokes, heart attack, or broken bones from a fall, you need to go to an SNF. Such a facility provides on-site therapists and nurses to promote faster recovery. A person recovering from a stroke needs to undergo physical and speech therapies to assist in daily activities and help with language and speech problems. Skilled nurses can also provide care to those who require IV therapies, need medication, and require regular monitoring of vital signs and other health indicators. If you want to have a nurse physically present during the day and night, an SNF may be the best solution.
Nursing home vs SNF
Nursing homes provide the highest level of care for seniors outside of a hospital. They provide custodial care that offers help with feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, meals, toileting or catheter care, managing oral medications, and getting around safely. In a nursing home, a skilled staff member helps seniors with tasks that are difficult for them to perform.
SNF, on the other hand, focuses on medical care for the residents. These services provide 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, nursing care, and assistance with everyday activities. Services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies are also provided under care and supervision.
How long can you stay in a skilled nursing facility?
In an SNF, some patients may require constant care almost every day. For instance, a person with a wound may require constant cleaning to prevent infection along with medication at a specific time of the day. The SNF is available for patients depending on their requirement, but the average length of stay in an SNF is somewhere between 20-38 days. If you are recovering from an injury, operation, or illness, the treatment schedule can be adjusted to fit the need of the patient.
Benefits of an SNF
Guidance on diet and nutrition: Caregivers at an SNF work with meal preparation to ensure the right kind of nutrition and the quantity of food to stay energetic.
Medications: Seniors on a list of medications have to take medicines on a regular basis to deal with conditions such as cholesterol, diabetes, etc. If there are more such conditions, keeping up with the daily dosage may become difficult. An SNF can ensure every resident’s medication schedule.
Rapid access to healthcare services: Seniors can receive prompt medical attention with medical care just a step away.
Insights on physical activity: Trained professionals will guide seniors about how much and what kinds of physical activity are best for them, looking at their current health status.
About Cornerstone at the Ranch
Cornerstone at the Ranch is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Lafayette, Louisiana that provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy, 24-hour skilled nursing, dietary services, and social services. Our nurses and team’s quality and loving care is our biggest strength and the reason behind the quick recovery of our residents.
You can call us at (337) 981-5335 or fill our contact form to schedule a tour of our center.