Elder Care Information

Skilled Nursing Homes - What Are They?


Home | Site Map | 101InfoLinks.com | Best Book Shop | Sports Fans ONLY
     .
© 2007

A skilled nursing home is a medical facility providing services similar to a hospital. The homes are staffed with licensed nurses, shared rooms, hospital beds, regular scheduled doctor rounds, meals and housekeeping. Skilled nursing homes often provide a more pleasant setting with optimal nurse to patient ratios and relaxed atmospheres.

Skilled nursing homes provide both long-term and short-term care solutions for seniors. Unlike Assisted Living or Board and Care homes, skilled nursing homes provide solutions for patients with complex medical issues that require 24-hour supervision. These issues can include mental issues such as dementia and physical issues such as major infections, wound care, IV therapy, tube feeding and physical/occupational therapy. Skilled nursing facilities are also a common solution for seniors that are unable to care for themselves on daily basis such as those suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

A skilled nursing home typically provides a team approach when providing medical care to patients. A licensed individual, usually called the "administrator", oversees the departments comprising the skilled nursing home. A licensed Director of Nursing ["D.O.N."] is then responsible for the administration of each department providing care to residents. Each D.O.N. is directly involved in the medical care of each patient. Their duties include overseeing nurses, interacting with physicians and resolving any patient-related issues. In essence, the D.O.N. is the person overseeing the day-to-day medical care of the patient.

In addition to the Director of Nursing, a skilled nursing home will customarily have other professionals on staff to assist patients. A med nurse is always assigned for the sole purpose of administering medications prescribed for the patients. Physical and occupational therapists also work within the structure of care, coordinating specifically ordered therapies and reporting progress to doctors. An activities director is in charge of all social interaction and planned activities. Finally, a social worker is typically on staff to assist patients with emotional issues and arrangements for their care after discharge.

Alex Jensen is with http://www.careplacement.com - a free placement service for Southern California. Care Placement's staff can review your care requirements to determine whether skilled nursing care, assisted living facilities or board and care homes are a viable option for seniors.


MORE RESOURCES:

Eldercare Expert Shares Caregiver Challenges
PR.com (press release), NY - 4 hours ago
AgingAvenues.com is the areas newest, most comprehensive on-line resource for learning about eldercare issues, how to prepare, find community resources and ...


Elder Care Marketing Expert Offers Free 2009 Marketing Kick-Start ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Nov 19, 2008
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN, and an elder care marketing expert, released her 2009 Marketing Kick-Start CD this week. LTC Expert Publications and http://www. ...


AMDA partners with ReachMD, in effort to attract eldercare physicians
McKnight's Long Term Care News, NY - Nov 18, 2008
The American Medical Directors Association has announced a strategic programming partnership with ReachMD, The Channel for Medical Professionals. ...


UNR NevadaNews

Free elder care training class offered in Gardnerville
UNR NevadaNews, NV - Nov 18, 2008
The workshop is designed for friends and family members caring for elders as well as professional caregivers. By Anne McMillin Are you caring for an older ...


Reader views: Elder care; Height's victory; American - not black ...
Wisconsin State Journal, WI - Nov 18, 2008
Saturday's State Journal reported on a lawsuit involving the Willows Nursing Home in Sun Prairie. I am the legal guardian for a woman who lives there. ...


New Jersey Jewish News

Holidays and your aging parent
New Jersey Jewish News, NJ - 16 hours ago
by Susan Schechter, LCSW Editor’s note: MetroWest CARES, the Committee Addressing Resources for Eldercare Services, is coordinated by United Jewish ...


Elder care monitors dwindle in Oklahoma
NewsOK.com, OK - Nov 15, 2008
BY WENDY K. KLEINMAN Understaffing at the state Health Department is delaying inspections at Oklahoma’s 670 long-term care centers, officials said. ...


Dr. Harry Weinstein dies - elder-care leader
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Nov 12, 2008
Dr. Harry Weinstein, a San Francisco physician noted for his long dedication to the care of the elderly, the disabled and the homeless, has died at the age ...


Healthy dining options available for seniors
The Republican - MassLive.com, MA - Nov 18, 2008
Since your mother is over the age of 60, she qualifies for many services offered through WestMass ElderCare Inc. WestMass ElderCare is a private, ...


LETTER: Despite cuts, elder care facility continues mission, 11-16-08
Fall River Herald News,  USA - Nov 15, 2008
On Nov. 17, Bristol Elder Services, Inc. will establish a waiting list for home care services. The commonwealth is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis ...

Elder-Care - Google News


Google
 

Home | Site Map | 101InfoLinks.com | Best Book Shop | Sports Fans ONLY
     .
© 2007