Home Away From Home
Nursing and rehabilitation centers provide elderly residents with a high level of personalized services, including room and board, personal care, protection, recreation, supervision, and medical care. Nursing centers (also sometimes called a nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit (SNU), care home, rest home, intermediate care, or old folk’s home) and rehab centers are licensed and regulated by each state’s Department of Public Health. Many nursing centers have the ability to provide care to those with Alzheimer's. Those nursing and rehabilitation centers that are individually certified by either Medicare or Medicaid, or both, are subject to federal requirements regarding staffing and quality of care for residents. In the United States, nursing homes that participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid are required to have licensed practical nurses (LPNs) on duty 24 hours a day. For at least eight hours per day, seven days per week, there must be a registered nurse (RN) on duty.
Features of Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers
Nursing facilities and Rehabilitation Centers provide three levels of care. The amount of care a resident requires is determined by the individual resident’s circumstances (their health, mental awareness, and so on). The three levels are:
- Basic Care – Assistance with essential daily living activities, such as personal care, ambulation, supervision, and safety.
- Skilled Care – The services of a registered nurse are required on a regular basis for health concerns, treatments, and procedures.
- Sub-Acute – Comprehensive inpatient care designed for someone who has had an acute illness, injury, or exacerbation of a disease process.
Financial Matters
Nursing and rehabilitation facilities accept a variety of payment options, including:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Medi-Cal (California only)
- Veteran’s Benefits
- Private insurance
- Private funds
Note: Not all nursing and rehabilitation centers accept Medicare/Medicaid; some choose not to participate in the programs. To get an accurate estimate of the cost of a particular nursing home or rehabilitation center, contact the communities listed on AlternativesforSeniors.com and inquire. A friendly associate will gladly assist you.
Other types of senior care exist in addition to nursing centers and rehabilitation centers. For seniors who may not need a high level of care, there are independent living options, such as retirement communities, senior apartments, and adult day care centers, and assisted living facilities, such as residential care and continuing care communities. For more serious health conditions there’s care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and hospice care.
September 16, 2019
When it comes to long-term care, choosing the right type of care is critical to ensuring a successful transition for both patients and their families. You may be deciding from a nursing home, an assisted living center, a rehabilitation center, or other senior care services.
In this blog, you’ll learn about the differences between nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. This information will prepare you to make the best decision on which is the most appropriate option for you or your loved one.
Nursing Home:
A nursing home is a facility that provides long-term personal and/or nursing care for those who can no longer care properly for themselves. They often fall into two categories; public and private.
Pros:
- Nursing homes are easily accessible. There are usually several in even small towns which makes this a viable option for just about everyone
- They accept most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid
- They are typically close to family, so visiting is easier
- Nursing homes offer social and/or recreational events for residents and their families
- Their focus is on providing long-term care instead of transitioning patients back to their previous daily routine
- They offer around-the-clock care
Cons:
- Nursing homes are primarily subsidized by some level of government funding
- The staff to resident ratio may be less than optimal
- Unless specified otherwise, room and board may usually consist of two residents to a room and three square meals/day
- They may not offer in-house rehabilitation services
Nursing homes are a convenient and widely available option if you or your loved one need extended or permanent care and assistance. They can range from semi-assisted to full long-term nursing care, depending on the facility you choose. Patients and their families must consider what their budget and insurance coverage will allow, and they must understand that each facility is unique in what it offers.
Rehabilitation Center
A rehabilitation center is a facility, also public or private, that provides therapy and training for rehabilitation. As such, this type of facility will offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Each facility is different and some may also provide specialized treatments as well.
Much like with nursing homes, there is a private sector for rehab centers and a public sector.
Pros:
- They do offer in-house rehabilitation services and focus on therapy to help residents transition back to assisted living and/or their daily life before rehab
- They accept most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid
- Room and board will consist of two people per room unless other arrangements are made.
- Residents get three square meals and may have access to a commissary of sorts for snacks outside scheduled meal times
Cons:
- They do not focus on long-term or terminal care
- Rehabilitation centers aim to get their patients back on their feet as safely and quickly as possible. This allows for new beds to open up and ensures a smooth transition back into society.
The main issue is deciding whether or not a rehab center is going to give you the sort of care you need and whether it’s the right choice.
When it comes to rehabilitation, especially in-patient rehab, it is usually a rehabilitation facility that receives the patient, as compared to a nursing home. Bedridden patients who may have suffered a traumatic brain injury, the effects of a long-term terminal, or debilitating illness, will often need therapy that a nursing home may not be able to provide.
With that being said, nursing homes will take people who’ve suffered from a debilitating disease. However, they are most likely to accept patients who won’t transition back to their previous daily routine. While nursing homes are looking for patients who need long-term or end-of-life care, rehabilitation centers are focused on helping residents transition back to their everyday lives.
How They Work Together
In some cases, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers work together. A patient may start in a rehab center and transition into a nursing home. Sometimes, they go to a rehab center after a stay at a nursing home and then eventually transition back to the nursing home. Some facilities know the benefits of both institutions. At Knollwood Nursing Center, for instance, we offer both a long-term nursing home facility and an in-patient rehabilitation facility. A patient can transition between the two until it’s determined they can return to their outside, daily life. And if a nursing home is the main goal, they are already accompanied by familiar surroundings, helping them heal and recover that much faster.
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