They are often used for care after a hospital. The difference between a skilled nursing facility and a nursing home comes down to the care that is provided: skilled nursing care versus nursing home care. A nursing home is a term used to describe the physical building where residents receive assisted living or skilled nursing care. In a skilled nursing facility, most of the confusion stems from the medical definition of skilled nursing. In other words, a nursing home has the option of employing qualified specialists, while SNFs absolutely require qualified specialists.
It's useful to keep in mind that skilled nursing is a description of the type of service being offered. The specialized services available in an SNF, such as physical rehabilitation, cardiac care, pulmonary rehabilitation, recovery after a stroke, wound care, and speech therapy, are probably not available in a nursing home. It should be noted that the need for skilled nursing services does not automatically mean that you must remain in an SNF, as skilled nursing is available in a variety of settings, including an older person's private home. Even if you know the differences between the types of care available, it can be difficult to know which skilled nursing community is best for you or your loved one.
Moving to a nursing home is often considered a more permanent move, rather than a temporary stay in a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation and recovery. Without the advanced training that an SNF requires, nursing homes are often less equipped to recover from acute illness or recover functions that were lost after a hospital stay. The differences between them can be especially confusing considering that nursing homes have skilled nursing services. To help older people, their families and caregivers more easily compare different skilled nursing communities, CMS created a five-star quality rating system that gives each community a rating of between 1 and 5 stars. To obtain CMS certification, skilled nursing communities must meet strict criteria and be subject to regular inspections to ensure that quality standards are met.
Long-term health insurance can help pay for many types of long-term care, including specialized and non-specialized care. In short, nursing homes are residential centers for older people who are medically stable, but who cannot receive care at home due to chronic illnesses or lack of mobility. In addition to custody care, nursing home residents can get help taking medications or managing chronic illnesses. Medicare doesn't cover long-term custody care in a nursing home, even if Medicaid or private long-term health insurance yes they can do it.
