About 60% of people will eventually need some sort of care during their lifetime.
When a senior requires assistance in their everyday life, they’ll have to decide between a long term acute care vs. skilled nursing facility.
These facilities are similar in that they both assist seniors, but they differ in the length of time and the level of assistance they provide.
If you’re interested in learning more about long-term acute care facilities and skilled nursing facilities, continue reading.
What is Long Term Acute Care?
A long-term care facility is a facility that provides assistance with activities such as eating, bathing, and daily living to seniors. Seniors who would benefit from this are those who don’t need any sort of hospital stays in ICU, but still require a complex amount of care.
With long term acute care, access is available to licensed medical practitioners when needed. However, there isn’t the same level of medical care that a skilled nursing facility would provide.
Long term acute care, being it’s a type of permanent residence, usually won’t be covered by your insurance.
Long term acute care facilities provide services for patients with complicated medical requirements. Some examples include:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s
- Complex wound or burn care
- Respiratory therapy
- Chronic conditions limiting mobility
In addition, patients who rely on IV medications or require a feeding tube are also great candidates for long term acute care facilities.
What is a Skilled Nursing Facility?
A skilled nursing facility is another great option for seniors who need assistance. However, the maindifference between long term care and skilled nursing facilities is that a skilled nursing facility is typically more short-term.
A skilled nursing facility is great for patients who don’t need extensive care but still require some level of support.
Skilled nursing facilities are a great transition between a hospital discharge and permanent solo living. And, being it’s on a more temporary basis, this sort of facility is typically covered by insurance, at least partially. Keep in mind, though, that coverage may vary.
At a skilled nursing facility, patients will receive assistance with daily needs such as getting dressed and bathing. They also provide care for certain health conditions and injuries such as heart attacks and hip replacements.
In order to qualify for a skilled nursing facility, patients must agree to receive at least one hour of therapy per day. These facilities are great for patients that require quality care, however, these facilities will not provide the intensive therapy and assistance that some seniors require.
Long Term Acute Care vs. Skilled Nursing Facility
When deciding between a long term acute care vs. a skilled nursing facility, it’s important to decide what your overall goal is.
For example, is the patient recovering from a procedure and in need of basic assistance, or do they require more long-term assistance? Answering this can help figure out which type of facility is best for the patient.
As long as you’re doing your research and going with a reputable facility with a great staff, your patient will be in good hands.
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