A nursing home, also known as a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), provides skilled nursing care, health care, and personal care services for seniors or people with disabilities.
The staff (licensed nurses, nursing aides, and other medical or care professionals) work closely with the patient’s other doctors to coordinate care.
The state or county in which the nursing home operates licenses the facility. The state sets minimum requirements for staffing levels to ensure the comfort and safety of residents.
What Services Do Nursing Homes Provide?
Nursing homes provide a wide range of health and personal care services. They can offer short-term rehabilitation programs and long-term care, including dementia care.
In addition to providing medical services, nursing homes also offer:
- Food service
- Housekeeping
- Transportation and social activities
What’s the Difference Between a Nursing Home and Assisted Living?
When deciding where to place your loved one, knowing the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living facility is essential.
A nursing home provides long-term, round-the-clock medical and personal care in a structured medical environment. It’s typically an option for those unable to care for themselves independently.
Assisted living facilities are less structured and have various options available depending on the needs of residents. They may provide transportation services, meals, housekeeping and laundry services, health care services, recreational activities, or social opportunities.
Choosing a Nursing Center for Your Senior Loved One
When choosing a nursing center for your senior loved one, there are some crucial factors to consider, the most important being the overall experience.
Questions to ask include:
- What is the staff like? Are they friendly and caring or cold and distant?
- How clean is the facility?
- What is the quality of food served?
- How frequently does the staff change shifts?
Other factors to consider include:
- Is there an onsite doctor or physician who can see patients outside regular working hours?
- Is there an onsite pharmacy that can fill out medications without out-of-pocket costs?
- Does the nursing home accept Medicare? If not, what payment methods do they take?
Nursing Home Insurance Options
Medicare or Medicaid typically pays for nursing home fees if your loved one qualifies for coverage. You may need to pay out-of-pocket if your loved one doesn’t qualify.
Nursing home care is expensive, so long-term care insurance is a viable option. It covers skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services and is a great way to ensure that your loved one receives the best possible care.
There are also separate insurance policies that provide coverage for nursing home expenses and medical care:
- Skilled Nursing Home Care: Covers nursing home medical costs and basic supplies like diapers.
- Rehabilitation Services: Covers physical, occupational, and speech therapy costs.
Contact Beach Breeze Rehabilitation & Care Center Today for Premium Senior Care
Beach Breeze Rehabilitation & Care Center is a premier nursing home in West Palm Beach, FL. We’re passionate about providing all our nursing home residents with the highest quality of senior care, focusing on health, healing, and safety.
Contact our friendly administrator at BBadmin@Beachbreezerehab.com or on our website to schedule a free tour of our Davis Road facility in West Palm Beach.