Importance of Rehab and Nursing Centers
There is a lot of confusion among seniors and families about the differences between a nursing home and a rehab center. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they offer different services and have varying costs.
A nursing home is a long-term care facility that offers skilled nursing services and rehabilitative therapy. These facilities can be Medicare-certified and are staffed by certified nursing assistants, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physical therapists, and speech pathologists.
Short-term Rehabilitation
Whether you have a chronic health condition or have suffered from recent surgery, a short-term rehabilitation program can help you recuperate and improve your quality of life. These programs offer around-the-clock medical care and rehabilitation therapy, which is essential for recovery. These facilities’ staff will ensure you receive the best treatment possible. They also provide a comfortable and inviting environment, which is important for healing.
A short-term rehab center can be a better alternative to hospitalization, especially if your condition is not terminal. These facilities, including Shaker Place Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, will provide you with various therapies to help you regain your strength, coordination, balance, and stamina. You can choose from physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
When choosing a short-term rehab facility, you should visit and tour it before deciding. This will allow you to see the ambiance and determine if it is right for you or your loved one. You should also ensure it is close to friends and family so they can visit frequently.
Skilled Nursing Facility
A skilled nursing facility provides round-the-clock medical care and rehabilitation for patients who cannot return home after a hospital stay. They are subject to routine inspections and are governed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare covers short-term stays in an SNF, but only if the patient has stayed as an inpatient in the hospital for at least three days and if the physician certifies that they need SNF care.
Licensed nurses in SNFs oversee medications, help patients with daily activities, and provide physical and occupational therapy. They also offer speech and language therapy and nutrition counseling to promote healthy eating habits.
When looking for an SNF, tour it in person and ask questions about security, mealtimes, and family involvement. Many SNFs encourage families to visit frequently to support their loved ones and alleviate loneliness and isolation. They are usually equipped with ramps and handrails, surveillance systems, and accessible bathrooms and bedrooms to make it easy for seniors to move around.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities are vital in recovering patients released from the hospital after an injury or surgery. They provide extended medical care, nursing care and therapy services that help prepare them for home again. The facility also monitors and evaluates your loved one’s progress daily. It is a great way to gauge their level of independence and to see how much improvement they are making in their recovery.
These facilities are often Medicare-certified, meaning the program may partially or fully cover your loved ones’ stay. They are staffed with medical professionals, including physicians and therapists. They also offer 24-hour skilled nursing care, different types of therapy, and social workers, counselors, and nutritionists. Their goal is to get your loved ones back on their feet as soon as possible so that they can return home. If your family member needs short-stay rehab, ensure they have a health care proxy or advance directive.
Rehabilitation Hospital
Care that can help you regain, maintain, or develop the abilities you require for daily tasks is known as rehabilitation. It could also assist you in managing an illness or injury or reduce discomfort. You may get treatment in a hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, a skilled nursing facility (SNF), or your doctor’s office.
Specialty hospitals or divisions of acute care hospitals that provide intensive inpatient rehabilitation are known as rehab hospitals. They provide care for medically stable patients who require more specialized care than in other settings, such as a home or a skilled nursing facility. Rehab hospitals are staffed by professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, and social workers.
The essential package of rehabilitation interventions aims to minimize the unmet need for rehabilitation. However, this is only possible in some contexts. For example, some rehabilitation interventions require clinical reasoning beyond the capabilities of primary healthcare providers and generalist community-health workers in low-income countries.
