Understanding Nursing Home Care

If your loved one were recently admitted to a nursing home, it is good to understand all the services that are typically provided. For many, it's more than just round-the-clock medical care; it's a chance to rehabilitate from an injury such as a broken hip or recuperate from an illness like pneumonia.

Dispelling the Stigma 

Nursing homes are also commonly known as skilled nursing facilities. They have long been scrutinized for being medical facilities where destitute seniors were sent to live out the remainder of their lives. The facilities were dilapidated and very little medical care was given.

Over the years, though, the federal government put new licensing mandates in place. Unfortunately, not everyone adhered to those guidelines. Allegations of insurance fraud, elder abuse and inadequate care at some facilities made headlines, and again, nursing homes generally received a bad reputation. 

Today's nursing homes are typically managed by licensed administrators, and the staff consists of certified medical and non-medical personnel. The facilities are regulated, inspected, certified and licensed by several state and federal agencies.

Who Works in a Nursing Home? 

Most nursing homes are staffed with nurses, certified nursing assistants and healthcare aides. Some may have a physician on staff full-time to treat patients' needs, while other homes contract with outside doctors who remain on call, but makes regular visits to the facility. Nursing care is provided by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses or vocational nurses who must be on staff and available 24 hours a day. 

Most nursing homes also employ licensed physical, speech and occupational therapists, social workers, office staff, food workers, custodians, groundskeepers, caregivers and housekeepers.

Services Provided in a Nursing Home 

Each resident, whether there short-term or long-term, receives individual attention while in a nursing home, as he or she is there for a specific reason. Some seniors are placed in this facility after a hospital stay to recuperate and rehabilitate, while others are disabled or have a long-term or terminal illness and need constant medical attention.

However, the basic function of a nursing home is to do things for its residents that they can no longer do for themselves. They receive medical attention while remaining safe and enhancing their quality of life. Some of the services provided in a typical nursing home include:

• Housekeeping
• Laundry service
• Basic hygiene
• Meals and snacks
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Respiratory therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Medication management
• Social and recreational activities
• Medical monitoring
• Medical treatments
• Dental, foot and eye care from third-party physicians

Paying for Nursing Home Care 

Nursing home care is not cheap; sometimes, it can cost up to $6,000 a month or more, depending on the type of care needed. There are, however, four ways to pay for nursing home care: Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and personal funds. Before deciding on long-term care for you loved one, it's best to make sure you understand how each of these types of payments are applied to your loved one's nursing home care:

• Medicare: Federal health insurance plan for those older than 65 years. Medicare will only pay for the first 100 days of licensed nursing home care only if the patient requires skilled care, referred by a doctor and had a three-day stay in a hospital prior to admittance. 
• Medicaid: This federal/state insurance program is for those who meet specific requirements. Payments from Medicaid may kick only after all other financial means are exhausted, such as Medicare or personal funds.
• Private insurance: Long-term care insurance can pay for nursing home care. All policies differ, so make sure you understand eligibility requirements, restrictions, costs and benefits.
• Personal funds: All personal assets must be used first to pay for nursing home care. After that, patients can apply for Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance to cover the excessive costs.

Stay Informed 

Once you choose a nursing home for your loved one, it's up to you make sure his or her care is up to par. Don't be afraid to talk to charge nurses, doctors or even look at medical records. If your loved one can't speak up for him or herself, it's up to you to be that voice.