Hello, my name is Amelia. Welcome to my site about nursing homes and assisted living facilities. When my mother developed a hip problem that prevented her from safely living at home alone, we started the long search for a suitable place for her to live. We toured each of the facilities in our area to find the one that felt most like home while providing all of the support and security she requires. Through this site, I would like to help other people weed through the options to find the best possible place for their loved ones to live. Thanks for visiting my site.
Exploring Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
Understanding Skilled Nursing Versus Assisted Living For Your Family Member
John Wilson
If you have a loved one in a nursing home facility that offers both assisted living and skilled nursing, you may face a point where your loved one needs to move from one to the other. This can leave some confusion for some family members who are not used to this type of environment. Here are a few of the differences between skilled nursing and assisted living and nursing home facilities.
Therapy Services
One aspect of skilled nursing facilities is the ability for your relative to have therapy services. These services can include physical therapy, occupational, and speech, as well as other therapies related to their particular illnesses or health issues. The therapies are offered in house. They are also scheduled around your loved one's daily routine. At the time of the scheduled therapy, a nursing assistant or registered nurse will prepare your loved one for their therapy appointment as well as take them to and from it.
Medication Management
In an assisted living environment, many of the residents can administer their own medications. Only certain medical and medication-related tasks may be handled by the nurse. For example, if the resident has diabetes, the nurse may handle their blood sugar checks for them and administer the necessary amount of insulin. However, daily prescriptions are generally handled by the resident.
If your family member moves to skilled nursing, medications may be handled by the registered nurse and given out at specified times during the day. This is to ensure that residents who cannot remember taking their medications or who may have issues with certain medications can still have them at the proper times and in the proper dosages.
Activities of Daily Living
In an assisted living environment, many of the residents can handle their own activities of daily living. They may need little to no help showering, bathing, daily hygiene, dressing, or walking. However, if your family member is moved to a skilled nursing area, this means that they may need increased amounts of help with these activities of daily living. In some cases, they may need help with all aspects of daily living and will require more assistance with basic hygiene in order to retain their independence.
Skilled nursing facilities are available to assist the elderly and those convalescing by ensuring that they maintain their health as well as their independence. Skilled nursing units generally have a licensed practical nurse as well as one or more registered nurses on the floor at any time. There will also be several nursing assistants available to help. If you have any questions about your skilled nursing facility or the move that your family member is expecting, contact your nursing home administrator.
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