Nursing homes are designed for providing long term care and disability support to elderly people with an illness or disability that prevents them from living as independently as they would otherwise like to. In these houses, the patients are generally confined to the premises. Nursing home facilities are legally regulated to ensure that they provide the necessary care for the disabled and elderly with the same standards of care that hospitals provide. The nursing homes have different services that they offer. These range from medical assistance such as medical equipment and diagnostic testing to social, emotional and recreational support.
DescriptionThe most basic function of nursing homes is to provide for the physical and spiritual well being of the patient. They must offer both the necessities and the facilities that enable the patient to maintain independence and cope with his/her condition in the best manner possible. These include access to medical equipment and diagnostic tools, access to therapists and other professionals, proper nutrition, among others. Medicare and Medicaid also support many nursing homes in providing for their long term care needs through providing advance directives. The advance directives allow the residents to make medical decisions on their own and also to decide where they want to stay when they leave the nursing home.
Federal regulations nursing homes are required to comply with certain rules and regulations that are governed by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In order to qualify as a nursing home care recipient, the resident must be allowed to choose which provider he would prefer to use. He/she must also have been assigned a Medicare Primary Care Provider, who would be the primary physician, to coordinate the medical and nursing care. In addition, the nursing homes must also inform Medicare and Medicaid of all changes in address, phone numbers, email, and other contact details.
A Nurse In Home Care option allows a family member home to still provide for the daily needs of the elderly, while still offering quality nursing care. There are two basic options, inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient nursing care provides quality and continuous nursing care to the patient. This nursing care is covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans. The outpatient nursing option allows the family member home to care for the individual in an outpatient setting, often at the family member home or at another location approved by Medicare and Medicaid.
Some older adults, due to poor health or financial reasons, do not wish to remain in the traditional hospitals or nursing homes. For these individuals, there are options available for in-home care. These include, Assisted Living Homes (ADH’s), Care Organizations, and Home Health Care.
Skilled Nursing Facilities The most common service offered by nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities is custodial care. Caring for an elderly person can be extremely difficult and may require many years of training. A person would have to have at least a diploma in high school or be licensed to work in a skilled nursing facility in order to qualify for this type of care.
24 Hour Nursing Care as more people age, long-term nursing homes provide more opportunity for individuals who want continuous long-term nursing care but do not have the time to complete the required training. This type of nursing homes provide individuals with a wide range of services including, but not limited to, adult day care, medical care, convalescence, and funeral arrangements. Most nursing homes provide these services for an overnight stay. They may be housed in a nursing care facility or they may be self-contained.
Physical Therapy rehabilitation clinicsThe goal of physical therapy rehabilitation is to return injured or disabled persons to daily, productive lives. A physical therapist will use various treatment techniques including, but not limited to, manual massage, electrical stimulation, and specialized exercise routines to help an injured person regain muscle function. Rehabilitation does not end when the patient has left the hospital. In fact, many physical therapy rehabilitation clinics offer continuing care for their patients, which can include advice on healthy diet and exercise as well as assistance with finding a job.
