Aging never comes easy for any senior. It brings daily living concerns and lasting healthcare issues. Still, everything looks manageable and goes smoothly until the family realizes that their aging loved one now needs more support than what can be managed at home or what’s being provided at an assisted living. Whether the senior is suffering from a complex medical condition, has severe mobility loss, or is facing cognitive decline, 24-hour care may become necessary.
While caring for a loved one may feel rewarding, it also brings its own challenges, especially when care needs slip through the cracks.
So when is skilled nursing needed? It’s often recommended during moments like these, when the family feels unable to handle the loved one’s evolving, worsening care needs. Whether a senior needs around-the-clock medical attention, rehabilitation after surgery or injury, or advanced dementia management, skilled nursing Burr Ridge can help with all of it.
But can’t a family choose assisted living instead of skilled nursing? They can, but their loved one won’t get the assistance and care needed for proper recovery and to live well.
This blog covers everything a family needs to know about skilled nursing. From what skilled nursing is to signs that indicate the need for skilled nursing assistance and how to get an assessment and plan, the guide covers it all.
What Skilled Nursing Care Is
Skilled nursing care is a specialized setting for patients who need rehabilitation and medical support due to injury, recovery, or chronic disease management. Licensed professionals, including registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and physical, occupational, or speech therapists, deliver tailored, higher-level care, including clinical & medical care, medication management, and rehabilitative therapies, based on the patient’s needs to support recovery. But it’s not what people assume—a care center for daily living support services or temporary support.
8 Signs a Senior May Need Skilled Nursing
Deciding when a senior needs skilled nursing care can be difficult for families who aren’t aware of the signs that indicate skilled nursing is needed. For some seniors, multiple conditions may require skilled nursing care.
Here are the top 8 signs that signal the need for skilled nursing.
1. Frequent Hospital Stays
Frequent hospitalizations due to a chronic condition, whether it’s infection, cardiovascular issues, respiratory problems, or another serious condition, can be preventable. Frequent admissions and discharges can become stressful for the family to manage and can be easily avoided by simply choosing a skilled nursing facility. Skilled nursing provides regular monitoring, higher levels of care, and medical support tailored to their health conditions. Regular access to care professionals prevents minor concerns from becoming serious.
2. Complex Medications, Injections, Or IV Therapy
For seniors, aging often brings multiple health issues that require regular monitoring and ongoing healthcare management. Managing multiple medications, injection administration, and IV therapy isn’t realistic for most families to manage. For instance, treatments such as antibiotics, hydration, or specialized infusions require sterile technique, proper vascular access management, and direct monitoring for adverse reactions, which a family can’t do, no matter how willing they are. Only a skilled nursing facility is licensed and equipped to handle all these medical care needs.
3. Wound Or Pressure-Injury Care
Skilled nursing isn’t just a substitute for frequent hospitalization; it’s an expert solution for wound and pressure-injury care. Both wounds and pressure injuries (bedsores) are stage 2 or higher, unstageable, deep tissue injuries that require professional care and management. Even a single missed care step can lead to serious concerns, such as pus, foul odor, warmth, or increasing pain. A skilled nursing unit can handle all these wounds, including pressure injuries (bedsores), diabetic foot ulcers, surgical incisions, venous and arterial ulcers, and chronic wounds like skin tears or burns.
4. Needing Two People For Transfers
Seniors with poor mobility who struggle with transferring from one place to another on their own also qualify for skilled nursing. At the same time, it may not seem like a big challenge for a family to manage; trying to lift or assist alone creates serious safety and injury risks for both the senior and family members. Also, if the senior is suffering from a chronic disease that requires them to get round-the-clock medical oversight, complex wound care, or continuous nursing supervision, skilled nursing may become necessary.
5. Slow Recovery After A Hospital Event
Even with advanced care tech and machines, a hospital may fail to support proper recovery or manage high-risk conditions and related concerns. The clinical setting may hinder a patient’s progress. This is where skilled nursing shines, bridging the gap between a hospital setting and the homelike environment a senior prefers. Skilled nursing delivers goal-directed rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, or speech therapy designed to rebuild strength and encourage independence.
6. Advanced Dementia With Medical Complications
Managing dementia is never easy but always possible. However, complex dementia-related needs can become difficult for even trained caregivers to manage, especially when cognitive impairments come with advanced medical complications. Common features in these situations include recurrent infections, pneumonia, severe weight loss, or difficulty swallowing. A skilled nursing care facility provides 24/7 clinical care, medical supervision, and structured support to people with advanced dementia.
7. Feeding Tube, Oxygen, Or Swallowing Risk
A general care setting can’t manage a patient’s advanced care needs, including oxygen management, feeding tubes, and active health monitoring. These concerns require the higher, specialized care skilled nursing provides. They have devices like G-tubes, PEG tubes, and oxygen delivery systems to monitor flow rates, prevent infections, check residual volumes, and maintain sterile site care. Skilled nurses and speech-language pathologists ensure modified diets, thick liquids, and safe-swallow protocols are followed for all patients to minimize swallowing risk.
8. Family Caregivers Can No Longer Keep The Person Safe
Whether the senior’s care needs have increased or the family caregiver is facing burnout, skilled nursing can help with both. It might be worsening dementia symptoms like wandering or severe dementia symptoms like wandering, exit-seeking, aggression, or leaving gas appliances on that create immediate danger and safety threats. Likewise, if the senior’s care needs become too complex, they may need skilled nursing.
Skilled Nursing vs. Assisted Living
Many families mistakenly choose assisted living when their loved one needs a higher level of care, believing it can handle their recovery support/chronic disease management. Even though they may look similar, significant differences exist between the two care settings that make each suitable for different seniors.
Here are the main differences that exist between the two care settings. Understanding these distinctions can help families decide which option is best for their loved one.
Staffing
Assisted living staff are trained to provide general daily living assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, eating, mobility support, and more. In contrast, a skilled nursing community employs licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) trained to deliver specialized, higher-level care services. Assisted living staff can help with medication management, ADLs, and emergency support. Skilled nursing staff is available 24/7 to provide continuous skilled nursing care.
Medical Capability
Assisted living doesn’t offer around-the-clock medical care because it isn’t licensed to provide it. It’s a housing option for older adults who need daily living support but don’t have severe medical needs. Skilled nursing communities, with higher staffing levels, provide around-the-clock care and supervision focused on rehabilitation and recovery. They provide intensive medical care as needed to support recovery from injury, illness, or surgery.
Cost
Assisted living is one of the more affordable professional care options because it offers less specialized daily care than skilled nursing. The national median cost of assisted living ranges between $5,190 and $6,200 per month. The national median cost of skilled nursing varies by accommodation. A semi-private room-based skilled nursing costs around $9,581 per month, while a private room costs between $10,646 and $10,798 per month.
How To Get An Assessment And Plan Next Steps
Simply noticing the signs that skilled nursing may be needed isn’t the final step in finding the right option for a loved one. They need an assessment that provides clear details about the loved one’s care needs.
Here’s a sequence they can follow:
Talk To The Doctor
First, schedule a conversation with the doctor, who can recommend a structured clinical assessment, specify which documentation to include, and suggest a clear transition plan.
Request A Facility Assessment
Next, the family needs to apply for a skilled nursing facility (SNF) assessment, where their loved one’s physical, medical, and cognitive needs are evaluated to determine whether round-the-clock nursing care is required or a more general care setting is appropriate.
Ask About Coverage
Coverage options available for skilled nursing depend upon whether the care is short-term rehabilitation or long-term nursing care.
Medicare applies only to short-term skilled nursing stays that cover daily skilled nursing care or therapy in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility (SNF). To qualify, the patient must complete a minimum 3-day inpatient hospital stay, be admitted to the SNF within 30 days of that stay, and have a doctor’s order for daily skilled care.
The government-funded long-term care program is Medicaid, which covers ongoing long-term nursing care if the senior meets state-specific income and asset limits and clinical level-of-care requirements.
Private pay out-of-pocket expenses typically range from $12,000 to $17,000 per month, with exact figures depending on the region and level of care needed.
Tour Options
Reading online reviews about a skilled nursing community isn’t enough to assess whether it’s a good fit for a loved one who needs higher levels of care. Families need to see a community firsthand before choosing it for a loved one.
FAQ
- What is skilled nursing care?
Skilled nursing is the highest level of medical and rehabilitative care delivered by licensed health professionals. Registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and physical, occupational, or speech therapists deliver tailored care under a physician’s supervision.
- What is the difference between skilled nursing and assisted living?
The main difference between the two care facilities is the type of treatment they offer. Skilled nursing provides 24/7 medical care and clinical treatment for people with serious health conditions or recovering from surgery. At the same time, assisted living offers long-term housing and help with daily living for seniors who struggle with activities of daily living.
- How do you know when it is time for a nursing home?
Skilled nursing is required for someone who needs 24-hour medical care, chronic condition management, or assistance with basic daily activities that can no longer be safely provided at home or in an assisted living setting.
- Does Medicare pay for skilled nursing care?
Yes, Medicare Part A pays for short-term skilled nursing care in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility (SNF) under specific conditions. However, Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, including help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, or eating.
- What medical conditions require skilled nursing?
Skilled nursing is recommended for patients needing daily medical treatments, clinical monitoring, or rehabilitation supervised by licensed nurses or therapists after a hospital stay or serious health event. Common medical conditions and events that require skilled nursing include neurological disorders, post-surgical recovery, cardiovascular and pulmonary issues, severe infections or post-critical illness, and cognitive and memory impairments.
Eden Vista Burr Ridge – Expert Skilled Nursing Services That Promote Comprehensive Care
At Eden Vista Burr Ridge, we understand how overwhelming it could feel for a family to decide whether to move their loved one to a skilled nursing facility. Despite recognizing the signs that skilled nursing is needed, it can take much longer for them to make a careful, informed decision as a family to move their loved one to skilled nursing. They need to understand that this wave of emotions is temporary and that choosing skilled nursing is an appropriate care and support option.
Families seeking reliable skilled nursing support for their loved ones can contact us at Eden Vista Burr Ridge. Our trained team of nurses and care professionals, with years of experience, delivers tailored support to help residents recover. During their stay, residents enjoy access to multiple amenities designed to promote a holistic lifestyle.
To learn about our skilled nursing plans, contact us to schedule a tour.