Skilled nursing facilities are also known as long-term care centers and nursing homes. These days, nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities are not just for older people. Because hospitals discharge most patients within an average of 5 to 10 days, people needing physical rehabilitation or long-term healing are often transferred to skilled nursing facilities to complete their care. Knowing what questions to ask can go a long way to ensuring a healthy rehabilitation.
Accreditation
Ask to see verification of accreditation, as well as a copy of the yearly inspection report. This report will define any areas within the facility that are lacking or need improvement. Accreditation is essential to ensure that quality and standards of care are optimal and upheld.
Services
Inquire about services. Ask to see a menu to ensure meals are balanced and nutritious and try dining there for a meal or two. Does the facility take care of the resident's laundry? Does the facility offer religious services? Ask to see available rooms. Find out if the facility offers private rooms or what happens if your loved one doesn't like his or her roommate. Are activities such as group sing-a-longs or bingo scheduled? Is entertainment such as guest speakers, movies or outings planned and scheduled on a daily basis? Visit the facility at different times of the day and on weekends and holidays to get a good idea of consistency of care, meals and activities.
Medicare
Costs for skilled nursing care can be astronomical. Medicare coverage for services may include physical and occupational therapy, meals, a semiprivate room, medications, supplies or equipment used within the facility and even speech-language pathology services. Make sure the facility is Medicare certified. It's always a good idea to have private insurance in place as well, to help pick up costs not covered by Medicare. Ensure that either your private health plan or Medicare services cover or help cover costs such as room and board, meals, doctor's office visits, drugs and therapy services, if necessary.
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