As our loved ones age, they may require more attentive and consistent care to maintain their health and well-being. Sometimes, an illness, injury, or health event can affect your loved one’s ability to care for themselves, or they need a higher level of care than home healthcare.
If your loved one’s health has changed quickly and you’re looking for the best care for them, it’s common to ask if skilled nursing is the right option.
“When you’re wondering what qualifies a patient for skilled nursing care, it’s important to understand that there are different levels of senior healthcare and to always have the future in mind,” said Anna Grace Doolittle, Healthcare Administrator at Rolling Green Village.
“Skilled nursing is a high level of care that your loved one could need someday. As a Life Plan Community, our residents will have access to several levels of care if and when they need it. The availability of these options provides peace of mind to residents and families that if a higher level of care is needed for quality of life, it’s ready for them in their community.”
What Is Skilled Nursing Care?
Skilled nursing care is a type of intensive care that physicians, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses can provide. A skilled nursing care team may also include physical and occupational therapists. You can receive skilled nursing care in a hospital or senior living community.
Some seniors may need skilled nursing care for a short-term period if they’re recovering from an illness or need post-operative care for a procedure like a joint replacement.
Other seniors may need skilled nursing as long-term care if they live with chronic medical conditions like heart failure or Parkinson’s disease.
What Qualifies a Patient for Skilled Nursing Care?
There are different kinds of qualifications that your loved one can meet to determine if they need skilled nursing care. If you’re looking into skilled nursing as a short-term option, then the following can qualify them:
Recovering from a fall injury or broken bone
Recovering from a medical event like a stroke
Recovering from surgery or an illness
In these situations, your loved one is still in the healing process and can benefit from the medical care, physical and occupational therapies, and other rehabilitative services offered along with skilled nursing care.
If you’re wondering if your loved one needs long-term skilled nursing, they may qualify if they have a chronic or serious medical condition that requires 24/7 care. It’s also possible that your loved one used to manage their health condition, but you notice signs that they need more help, such as:
Forgetting to take medication
An inability to walk on their own
Missing bills or appointments
Unwillingness or inability to eat or drink
“When we realize that our loved ones need assistance with their care, it’s an emotional time. But finding the right level of care for your loved one will also provide them with the high quality of life they deserve,” said Anna Grace Doolittle.
Skilled Nursing Services
Skilled nursing services cover a variety of daily services that will help your loved one with their recovery, manage their health condition, and do the everyday tasks necessary to live a functioning and quality life.
Monitor vital signs
Administer injections and other medication
Wound care
Activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing, and eating
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Catheter care
Often, skilled nursing care involves around-the-clock care. This means your loved one will have regular check-ins and visits with compassionate staff members throughout the day to provide care, ask your loved one how they’re feeling, and make them as comfortable as possible.
“Our staff-to-resident ratio is high so we can ensure that all our skilled nursing residents are getting the attention and care they deserve,” said Anna Grace Doolittle.
While your loved one will receive the care services they need, they’ll also be able to enjoy the community’s amenities and services.
“At Rolling Green Village, we have robust amenities and services that allow all Rolling Green residents to live their best lives. This means maintenance-free living, spacious private bedrooms, a variety of individualized activities and social opportunities, exceptional dining services, an outdoor patio for fresh air, and more,” said Anna Grace Doolittle.
How Does Skilled Nursing Help Caregivers?
Skilled nursing also provides another important service: caregiver relief. If you’ve been caring for your loved one, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and burned out. Caregiver burnout is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that that leave you feeling:
Fatigued
Hopeless
Withdrawn
Unable to sleep or concentrate
Caregivers often reach burnout by not taking time for themselves – which is difficult to do as a sole caregiver for a loved one. If you don’t address burnout, these symptoms can start to affect your quality of life and, by extension, your loved one’s.
While burnout is normal, it doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Skilled nursing can be the solution you’re looking for.
Seeking skilled nursing care can provide you with peace of mind that your loved one is getting the around-the-clock care they deserve, and you can begin your burnout recovery process.
This includes rest, seeking a support group, mental healthcare, and anti-stress exercises, all while knowing your loved one is in safe hands.
Learn About the Health Services at Rolling Green Village
Rolling Green Village offers comprehensive and compassionate skilled nursing care for your loved one as they recover from injury or illness.
Our team will develop a personalized care plan for your loved one to restore their well-being as quickly as possible. Call us at 864-558-9301 to learn more about our around-the-clock care.
