Find nursing home options
Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, provide 24-hour nursing and personal care for seniors. Nursing homes offer the highest level of care for seniors who need long-term or short-term medical care but don’t need hospitalization. Elderly adults who need long-term care at a nursing home often have severe physical or cognitive health conditions that require 24-hour nursing care. They may be incontinent, unable to eat independently, or unable to transfer from bed to a wheelchair without the assistance of a staff member.
Nursing homes play a crucial role in post-hospitalization care. They offer short-term rehabilitation for seniors recovering from illnesses, accidents or surgery. Rehab care focuses on restoring mobility, strength, and function so seniors can get back to their normal activities.
Nursing homes provide a distinctly higher level of medical care than other types of senior living, such as independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Nursing homes can also be called “care homes,” “skilled rehab facilities,” or “long-term care facilities.”
Nursing homes offer specialized medical care and employ nurses and onsite physicians. Nursing homes are equipped to handle wound care, feeding tubes, catheters, IV therapy, dialysis, injections, and heart rate and blood pressure monitoring. They may also offer physical, occupational, speech, orthopedic, and psychological therapy. Nursing homes also offer care coordination and transportation to medical appointments. Assisted living or memory care residents may move into a nursing home when they’ve become bed-bound or have medical needs that their senior living facility is not meant to handle.
Because of the high level of care needs, nursing homes are staffed 24/7 with caregivers and nurses. Patients can expect around-the-clock supervision and care. Like other senior care facilities, nursing homes provide daily meals, snacks, activities, housekeeping, mobility assistance, and personal care.
Many, but not all, nursing homes provide long-term care to patients who need specialized medical attention indefinitely. These facilities almost always provide hospice care on-site and can work with third-party hospice providers as well.
Nursing homes also offer short-term rehabilitation services for seniors recovering from a procedure or a severe illness. These stays may be covered by Medicare, and usually last less than three weeks.
Unlike assisted living or memory care facilities, nursing homes are regulated by the federal government. This is because nursing home residents are often eligible for government assistance through Medicare or Medicaid. You can find federal report cards and regulations for nursing homes on the Medicare website.
Elderly nursing home residents often have significant physical or mental health conditions that require long-term, 24-hour nursing and personal care. Seniors who can no longer lift themselves out of bed or who require daily skilled nursing are often ineligible for assisted living or memory care and may need nursing home care.
Many seniors are a better fit for assisted living or memory care. Consider these options before deciding on a nursing home.
Both nursing homes and assisted living facilities offer senior housing, meal services, and help with personal care. However, seniors in assisted living communities are generally active and relatively independent, although they may need help with certain daily tasks. Nursing home residents typically have debilitating health problems that require 24-hour care and skilled nursing services. Because assisted living facilities don’t offer medical care, they are cheaper than nursing homes.
While nursing homes focus on residents’ physical and mental health, memory care aims to enhance the quality of life for people who have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Memory care communities are like assisted living facilities that specialize in caring for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Like assisted living facilities, memory care communities don’t offer 24-hour skilled nursing services or rehabilitative therapies.
Home care allows seniors to age in place in their home. Home care aides can help with personal care, light housekeeping, cooking, pet care, transportation, and much more. Home health is different from home care and must be prescribed by a physician. Unlike home health care, general home care doesn’t include the skilled nursing care provided at nursing homes. However, it’s possible to combine home care with home health care to receive skilled nursing care at home from licensed health care professionals. Because home care and home health care are paid for by the hour, they tend to be much more expensive than nursing homes if you need 24-hour care.
Finding a nursing home for your loved one may feel overwhelming. You may have many different facilities to choose from, so how do you know which one is right? Start with your family member’s prioritized needs and consider the facility’s medical services and ratings.
Ultimately, there’s no substitute for visiting and experiencing a typical day at the nursing home. As you tour different facilities, be sure to ask whether the nursing home you’re visiting is Medicare or Medicaid certified and licensed if you plan on using your benefits to help cover your care costs there. You can also check the facility’s rating on the Medicare website.
Use these resources to discover what to look for when searching for a nursing home and how to find the best nursing homes near you.
Nursing homes are more expensive than assisted living or memory care because they require medically trained staff and more supervision. Nursing homes may cost twice as much as assisted living or memory care facilities in your area.
Paying for a nursing home is not always straightforward, and families can use multiple sources to cover nursing home costs. Often, some nursing home care can be covered with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or veterans benefits. Short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities for rehabilitation may be covered by Medicare, while indefinite stays in a nursing home will require some out-of-pocket payment for rent and meals. Learning how to pay for nursing home care now can help you plan for your future needs.
A Place for Mom has the largest network of senior living communities and home care providers in the nation. We enable caregivers to make the best decisions for their loves ones.
