Info Zones You never think it will happen to you. When we’re in our prime, in the peak of health, it’s hard to imagine needing Skilled Nursing care. Yet with life expectancy rising and a record number of people approaching their senior years, it’s inevitable that some of us will require Nursing Home care as our circumstances change. WHAT IS A NURSING HOME? A nursing home, also known as a Skilled Nursing Facility or SNF, has Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants who help provide 24-hour care to people who can no longer care for themselves due to physical (acute or chronic), emotional, or mental conditions. A licensed physician supervises each patient’s care and a nurse is always on the premises. Most nursing homes have two basic types of services, skilled nursing (medical) care and custodial care. Skilled Nursing (Medical) Care: includes services of trained professionals that are needed for limited period of time following an injury, illness or elective surgery. • An RN or LVN doing wound care and changing dressings after a major surgery, or administering and monitoring I.V. antibiotics or other medications as ordered per the physician. • A Physical Therapist helping to correct strength and balance problems that have made it difficult for a patient (resident) to walk or get on and off the bed, toilet or furniture. • An Occupational Therapist helping a person relearn independent self-care in areas such as dressing, grooming and eating. • A Speech Therapist helping a person regain the ability to communicate and or swallow after a stroke. Skilled Nursing Care may also be needed on a long term basis if a resident requires injections, enteral feedings (peg or NG tube) or other treatment of that nature. Custodial or Personal Care: includes assistance with what are known as the “Activities of daily living”, such as: • Bathing • Dressing • Eating • Grooming • Toileting • Getting in and out of bed, or walking around Custodial or Personal Care can be needed on a long term basis or a short term basis. Respite Care is also known as short term care stays providing caregivers or family members a needed break to rest or go on vacation knowing their loved one is being well cared for. WHO IS AN APPROPRIATE CANDIDATE FOR A NURSING HOME? Each person’s need for care or assistance is unique to each individual. Some individuals may have a short-term need, perhaps caused by a fall and a broken hip, that necessitates a brief hospitalization followed by rehabilitation (physical therapy). After a short-term Nursing Home stay, the person may be able to return home and continue receiving some services such as physical therapy, for example other people have more longterm needs, possibly due to cognitive issues (memory loss), extreme frailty, or a stroke. In this case, care is necessary on an ongoing basis, such as: • Cannot take care of themselves because of physical, emotional, or mental problems: • Can no longer care for their own personal needs, such as eating, bathing, using the toilet, moving around, or taking medications – (custodial care): • Requires more care than can be provided by a caregiver, and is unable to live at home alone: • May wander if not supervised: • Has extensive medical needs requiring daily attention or monitoring by an RN or LVN supervised by an M.D.: • Is going to be discharged from the hospital and requires temporary skilled nursing care or rehabilitation before returning home or to a residential facility: • Has been recommended for a nursing home by a physician. WHAT SERVICE DOES A NURSING HOME PROVIDE? Nursing homes offer an array of services, such as basic skilled nursing care as well as custodial care. They provide a room, all meals, snacks, therapeutic social activities, personal care, 24-hour nursing supervision, access and transportation to medical services when needed. Windsor Care Center will provide: • A clean, private or shared room that is facility furnished or the resident’s personal furnishings. • Dietary services, nutritious meals and snacks, in accordance with medical requirements. • Housekeeping and linen services (includes towels and pillows) • Personal (custodial) care (including assistance with bathing, dressing, oral hygiene as well as incontinent care). • Therapeutic recreation and social activities (includes mini day fishing trips, picnics and sometimes just a ride to look at the wildflowers or get ice cream). • Transportation to and from local medical appointments as well as planned social outings. • 24 hour onsite medical staff: Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). • Supervision by each resident’s physician. • Wanderguard Alert System (alerts staff to cognitively impaired residents near an exit door). • Bed and Chair personal alarms (alerts staff to residents who are getting up without assistance). For an additional fee, nursing homes will also provide: • Rehabilitation services: occupational, physical, respiratory and speech therapy which includes any swallowing difficulties. • Pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services. • Dental services. • Person care items. CAN A SKILLED NURSING HOME HANDLE SPECIAL NEEDS? Some skilled nursing facilities can handle the following special needs: • Kidney dialysis treatment (transportation to and from dialysis treatment center). • Alzheimer’s and dementia care • Respiratory care (hand held nebulizer treatments) • Parkinson’s care • Terminal illnesses (Hospice Care) in cooperation with a separate Hospice agency that visits the facility to provide specialized care. • Chronic psychiatric care. • Diabetic care (Accu-checks as well as insulin injections). • I.V. antibiotics • Wound care (dressing changes after major surgery). • Enteral feedings (Peg or NG tubes)