People often use the words “skilled nursing”, “assisted living” and “nursing home” interchangeably, but they are actually different terms. Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, provide a wide range of health and personal care services. Their services are more focused on health care than in most assisted living facilities or nursing homes. The services offered in a nursing home usually include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with daily activities. There are also rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy.
A skilled nursing facility is an inpatient rehabilitation and medical treatment facility staffed by trained medical professionals. Patients usually arrive at a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay and remain under the care of a doctor. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a type of inpatient facility that provides short- or long-term skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services to patients. These centers provide 24-hour medical care to patients who require transitional care after a qualified hospitalization for illness, injury, or surgery.
Skilled nursing facilities also provide patients with 24-hour assistance in carrying out activities of daily living, to use the term Medicare. Medicare generally doesn't cover long stays in a nursing home, but it may pay for some related costs, such as medical services and medical supplies. Every patient admitted to a skilled nursing facility receives an initial health evaluation, as well as ongoing health evaluations to evaluate their physical and mental health, medications, and ability to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing. A skilled nursing facility is designed to be a temporary solution, while a nursing home is designed for long-term living. Without the advanced training that an SNF requires, nursing homes are often less equipped to recover from acute illness or restore functions that were lost after a hospital stay.
Skilled nursing facilities that violate these and other standards can be reported to authorities, such as local ombudsmen for long-term care and state regulatory agencies for nursing homes. Assisted living is for people who need help with daily care, but not as much help as a nursing home provides. Medicare doesn't cover long-term custody care in a nursing home, although Medicaid or private long-term health insurance can. Medicare beneficiaries are covered for up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility and face out-of-pocket costs for each additional day spent in SNF care.
In addition to custody care, nursing home residents can get help taking medications or managing chronic diseases. The differences between them can be especially confusing considering that skilled nursing is available in a nursing home. To obtain CMS certification, skilled nursing communities must meet strict criteria and are subject to regular inspections to ensure that quality standards are met. Conversely, a nursing home is a long-term residential facility primarily intended for elderly people who are medically stable, but who cannot be cared for at home due to chronic illnesses or lack of mobility.
Patients can go from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility to continue to recover after an illness, injury, or surgery. Moving an older adult to an assisted living facility, group home, or nursing home can be stressful and represents a big change for both the individual and their caregivers. Skilled nursing facilities cannot charge an entry fee, as some assisted living communities do, and they are required to put their services and fees in writing and to provide these details in advance to the patient or the patient's caregiver.
