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Nursing Homes
Deciding on a care setting can be daunting, but nursing homes are secure, supportive environments where older adults receive the medical care and support they need. Nursing homes offer a range of care settings, from intermediate care facilities to skilled nursing facilities. These settings ensure older individuals receive care in a comfortable, secure, and peaceful setting.
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What Are Nursing Homes?
A nursing home, also known as a care home, is a residential care facility that provides medical care, supervision, and assistance with activities of daily living to the elderly or individuals with chronic medical conditions. Nursing facilities are for people who need a more supportive living arrangement than assisted living or their own homes can provide.
Typically, there are two types of care in nursing facilities: intermediate care facilities and skilled nursing facilities. Both are long-term care facilities that provide assistance with daily activities and supervision for their residents, differing in the level of medical support provided.
These categories of facilities can help families select the appropriate living environment for their caregivers, family members, and loved ones.
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Types of Nursing Home Care
Custodial Care
Custodial care is a support service that assists individuals with activities of daily living. This means that custodial care includes round-the-clock supervision and assistance with personal care needs such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility.
Residents in nursing homes receive custodial care services to assist them with their individual needs while receiving medical care.
Intermediate Care
Intermediate care facilities offer basic medical services in addition to custodial services. In an intermediate care facility, the patients receive basic monitoring, medication, and rehabilitation services. However, the patients do not need to undergo complex medical procedures.
Intermediate care facilities can be suitable for patients with stable medical conditions who need assistance with activities of daily living.
Skilled Nursing Care
Skilled nursing care is the most comprehensive level of medical care offered in a nursing home setting, aside from a hospital. Skilled nursing is provided by licensed nurses, nursing assistants, and other healthcare professionals, and is supervised by physicians to assist with daily activities and monitor patients’ well-being.
Residents who are offered this level of care may have various medical needs such as wound care, physical therapy, IV medications, feeding tubes, and support for post-surgical recovery.
Nursing Home Facilities
Nursing home facilities can be either standalone entities or part of a larger senior living community. Many continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and assisted living communities offer on-campus skilled nursing facilities for residents who may need a higher level of care should their needs change.
All nursing homes in the United States must be licensed and regulated by the state health department. Many nursing facilities that accept both Medicare and Medicaid must also adhere to federal regulations established by CMS.
Intermediate Care Facilities
An intermediate care facility is a state-licensed facility that provides 24-hour supervision and basic medical care, offering a higher level of care than typical home health services. These facilities are usually staffed with registered nurses, although a registered nurse is not necessarily on duty at all times.
The residents in intermediate care facilities are usually receiving rehabilitative or recuperative care and do not need complicated medical procedures such as IV therapy and a feeding tube.
Because the level of care is less intensive, staff-to-resident ratios are typically lower than in skilled nursing facilities.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) provides continuous medical monitoring and treatment. The facilities are equipped to provide sophisticated medical treatments, including wound care, intravenous medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and feeding tube management.
Regulations set by the federal government generally require that, for at least 8 hours a day, a registered nurse be on duty, with licensed nursing staff available around the clock. The medical treatment is offered under the direction of a licensed physician.
Skilled nursing is usually required for those recovering from surgery, illness, or injury, and for those with long-term medical needs.
What Services Do Nursing Homes Provide?
Nursing homes offer a wide range of medical and personal support services to meet residents’ physical impairments and emotional needs. Nursing home services vary by facility but commonly include:
- 24-hour nursing supervision
- Medication management
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Meal preparation and dietary monitoring
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Recreational and social activities
- Transportation for medical appointments
Many facilities also provide specialized care programs for residents with chronic conditions such as stroke recovery or diabetes, and memory care programs for Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
Nursing Home Costs
The cost of nursing home care also varies by area, facility size, services provided, and whether a private or shared room is chosen.
In the USA, nursing home care is usually among the more expensive long-term care options. The price tag can vary anywhere from thousands of dollars to more than $100,000 annually.
The nursing home resident may pay out of pocket or be eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of Medicaid, long-term care insurance, or veterans’ benefits. In addition, Medicare will pay for short-term skilled nursing facility services following a hospital stay, but not long-term nursing home care.
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Who Should Consider a Nursing Home?
Nursing homes are designed for individuals who require consistent medical supervision or significant assistance with daily living activities. Residents may include:
- Older adults with serious or chronic health conditions
- Individuals recovering from surgery, injury, or illness
- Seniors with limited mobility who need daily assistance
- People who require ongoing medical monitoring or rehabilitation to prevent hospitalization
For families, nursing homes can provide peace of mind knowing their loved one’s needs are met and they have access to professional medical care and support around the clock.
How to Choose the Right Nursing Home
Selecting a nursing home is an important decision that should involve careful research and evaluation. Families should consider factors such as:
Quality of Care
Look for facilities with strong inspection ratings, qualified medical staff, and positive resident outcomes.
Staff Availability
Ask about staffing levels and whether registered nurses and physicians are regularly available.
Facility Environment
Tour the nursing home to observe cleanliness, safety features, and how staff interact with residents.
Services and Programs
Ensure the facility offers on-site medical care, rehabilitation services, and social programs that match the resident’s needs.
Taking the time to visit facilities, ask questions, and review inspection reports can help families feel confident in their choice.
FAQs About Nursing Homes
The basic function of a nursing home is to provide 24-hour medical care, supervision, and assistance with day-to-day activities for people who are no longer able to live safely independently due to old age, illness, disability, or recovery from surgery. Nursing homes provide a safe, organized environment where patients receive assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and walking, as well as access to nurses, physicians, and rehabilitation services when necessary. The facilities are designed to ensure that patients receive consistent care while also providing them with comfort, safety, and a high quality of life.
The most significant difference between an assisted living facility and a nursing home is the level of medical care offered. Assisted living facilities are intended for seniors who are mostly independent but still require assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, medication management, and meal preparation. Nursing homes, on the other hand, offer 24-hour medical attention and skilled nursing services for individuals with more complex medical needs, chronic medical conditions, and those recovering from surgery and illness. Given this level of medical care, nursing homes are usually staffed with medical professionals, such as licensed nurses.
Medicare can pay for short-term skilled nursing facility care, but not long-term residential facility care. It usually becomes effective only after a minimum of 3 days in the hospital and is limited to medically necessary services such as rehabilitation, skilled nursing, or therapy. Medicare will cover the full cost for the first 20 days in a skilled nursing facility; days 21 to 100 are usually covered in part, and the resident is responsible for the cost unless other assistance programs, such as Medicaid or long-term care insurance, are available to help pay the bill.
Yes, long-term skilled nursing facility services can be covered by Medicaid services for individuals who meet the Medicaid income, asset, and medical eligibility requirements. Unlike Medicare, which provides only short-term rehabilitation services, Medicaid is the largest payer of long-term nursing facility services. Long-term nursing facility services include room and board, nursing care, and assistance with activities of daily living, among other services.
Bottom Line: Nursing Homes Provide Essential Medical and Daily Care Support
Nursing homes provide a safe, supportive living environment for individuals who need medical care and assistance with activities of daily living. Nursing homes provide a range of care, from custodial to skilled nursing. This provides individualized care plans to manage their medical conditions, recover from illnesses or surgeries, and live a high-quality lifestyle. Nursing homes give families peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are in a supportive, secure living situation when independent living is no longer possible.