Bella Vista Health Center Blog
How To Support Someone In Skilled Nursing
After an illness, injury, or surgical procedure, a patient may be referred to a skilled nursing facility for a period of focused recovery and rehabilitation.
After an illness, injury, or surgical procedure, a patient may be referred to a skilled nursing facility for a period of focused recovery and rehabilitation. At skilled nursing facilities, a team of experienced doctors, nurses, and therapists provide round-the-clock medical care. But to promote healing, it’s important to address the patient’s mental, spiritual, and emotional health, as well.
Friends and family play a significant role during the recovery process. If you have a loved one staying in a skilled nursing care facility, your support can help improve their spirits, which will in turn improve their chances for long-term health and happiness. Here are a few tips on how you can show support for someone in skilled nursing.
Visit regularly.
Spending time with your loved one while they’re in a residential care center is probably the most effective way to show your support. All skilled nursing facilities have designated visiting hours for friends and family. Schedule your visits ahead of time so your loved one will have something to look forward to. When you show up, remain positive and encouraging, and remind them of how important they are to you.
Take advantage of technology.
Unfortunately, between hectic schedules and long distances, it’s not always possible to make in-person visits. But you can still conduct regular “virtual” visits, via Skype, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts. While it’s not quite the same as being able to hold your loved one’s hand, you can still maintain communication and keep them connected to the world outside the skilled nursing facility.
Share a meal.
Communal eating is an essential daily ritual, and an important way to build relationships and establish a sense of normalcy. Consider joining your loved one for a midweek dinner or a Sunday brunch. Most skilled nursing facilities offer delicious and nutritious dining options, but depending on your loved one’s dietary restrictions, you may also be able to bring one of their favorite dishes from home.
Encourage socializing.
Maintaining social connections is crucial to mental health. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can lead to stress, depression, and reduced immunity, all of which impede the recovery process. That’s why many skilled nursing facilities offer a variety of amenities and activities, including group outings, fitness classes, creative pursuits, games, and celebrations. Review the schedule of events with your loved one and encourage them to participate. If possible, attend some of the activities yourself.
Create familiar surroundings.
While skilled nursing facilities provide a nurturing and compassionate environment, the unfamiliarity may be upsetting at first. To help make your loved one feel more comfortable, try bringing in items to remind them of their home. Photos of family members or special trinkets strategically placed around their room can provide reassurance, and a favorite pillow or blanket can make their bed a more restful place to be.
Listen.
The transition to a skilled nursing facility is sometimes stressful. Your loved one may experience fear, anger, or frustration, especially in the beginning. It’s important to listen to their grievances without judgment. Provide an empathetic ear and let them know you’re there for them during this stressful period of their lives. Sometimes, just knowing someone who cares is listening will provide comfort and alleviate concern.
Bella Vista Health Center provides skilled nursing care in San Diego
If your loved one is in need of skilled nursing care, you’ve come to the right place. Bella Vista Health Center provides a caring and compassionate environment and top-notch medical care. We take a holistic approach to healing and customize treatment plans to address the specific needs of each patient. With a variety of rehabilitative programs, special amenities, and a full schedule of activities, your loved one will have a comfortable, therapeutic, and enjoyable stay at Bella Vista.
Call us at (619) 644-1000 to schedule a tour of our 5-star skilled nursing facility.
Skilled Nursing Facility Requirements For Admission
If you or a loved one is interested in using Medicare for skilled nursing, though, the federal government has issued specific skilled nursing facility requirements for admission.
For those transitioning from hospital to home following an illness, injury, or surgery, a skilled nursing facility can help speed up recovery and ease the shift back to independent living. However, not everyone needs a skilled nursing facility, and to be eligible for Medicare coverage, a patient must meet specific criteria for admission. Read on to find out if you or your loved one qualifies for skilled nursing care.
What is a skilled nursing facility?
Skilled nursing facilities are residential centers that provide round-the-clock nursing and rehabilitative services to patients on a short-term or long-term basis. Examples of the services provided at a skilled nursing facility include wound care, medication administration, physical and occupational therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Generally, patients who are admitted to skilled nursing facilities are recovering from surgery, injury, or acute illness, but a skilled nursing environment may also be appropriate for individuals suffering from chronic conditions that require constant medical supervision. If you or a loved one is interested in using Medicare for skilled nursing, though, the federal government has issued specific skilled nursing facility requirements for admission.
What are the eligibility requirements for admission to a skilled nursing facility?
Medicare will cover admission to a skilled nursing facility if:
You have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) with days left in your benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you’re admitted to a hospital or a skilled nursing facility and ends 60 days after the end of your stay.
You have a qualifying hospital stay. This generally means you must have experienced at least three inpatient days in a hospital.
Your doctor believes you require skilled nursing care on a daily basis. This care must be given under the supervision of skilled nurses and therapists and must be directly related to a condition treated during your qualifying hospital stay.
You are admitted to a skilled nursing facility that is certified by Medicare. A skilled nursing facility must meet strict criteria to maintain their Medicare certification.
What skilled nursing services are covered by Medicare?
Once you are admitted to a skilled nursing facility, the following services covered by Medicare include, but are not limited to:
A semi-private room, shared with other patients
Meals and nutritional counseling
Skilled nursing care
Rehabilitative services related to your health goals, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory therapy
Medication
Medical social services
Medical supplies
Limited ambulance transportation
In general, Medicare will cover up to 100 days of treatment in a skilled nursing facility. It’s important to note that if you ever refuse your daily skilled care or therapy while in a facility, you may be denied coverage for the rest of your stay. Following doctors’ orders is the best way to ensure continued Medicare coverage – and to ensure a full recovery.
How do I find a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility?
Medicare maintains a public list of certified skilled nursing facilities, including their state inspection reports, quality measures, staffing levels, and resident characteristics. The US Department of Health’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also provides a rating system to help prospective patients compare the quality of care and customer service offered at different skilled nursing facilities in their area. A facility can get between one and five stars; a five-star rating is considered excellent.
Bella Vista Health Center is a 5-star skilled nursing facility in San Diego
If you or a loved one is in need of short-term rehabilitative care, Bella Vista Health Center has some of the highest quality skilled nursing San Diego can provide. We’re proud to maintain a five-star rating from CMS, offering each of our patients individualized care in a comfortable, nurturing environment.
Call (619) 644-1000 to find out more about our facility and our services.
What are Post-Acute Care Services?
As a skilled nursing facility in San Diego, we help fill in the gap by offering post-acute care services to address patients in need of specialized follow-up care. Here’s an overview of post-acute care services, and how we can help.
Decades ago, someone suffering a medical emergency such as an accident or sudden illness would spend a considerable amount of time in the hospital recovering after surgery or treatment. Modern healthcare costs have made extensive hospital stays unfeasible, but for most patients in this type of situation, quick recovery is unrealistic.
As a skilled nursing facility in San Diego, we at Bella Vista Health Center help fill in the gap by offering post-acute care services to address patients in need of specialized follow-up care. Here’s an overview of post-acute care services, and how we can help.
Which conditions can be treated with post-acute care?
The conditions treated with San Diego post acute care services include—but are not limited to—strokes, pulmonary diseases, orthopedic fractures, hip fracture/replacement, knee or other joint replacement, cardiac or respiratory ailments, severe wounds, and post-tracheostomy recovery.
What is the goal of post-acute care?
San Diego Post Acute Rehabilitation providers treat major health episodes through therapeutic, rehabilitative or skilled nursing services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, along with basic medical care. Although the main goals for post-acute care are stabilization and recovery, providers also address self-care tasks for improved mobility and pain management, and offer tools and strategies to prevent further complications. And while providers allow patients to recover at their own pace, they also strive to help patients regain their independence and return home as soon as possible.
Who provides post-acute care services?
Entities that provide post-acute care services include transitional care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care providers. Skilled nursing facilities such as Bella Vista Health Center offer post-acute care from a full spectrum of professional healthcare providers including physicians, registered nurses, certified therapists, social workers, and support staff.
What do skilled nursing facilities offer in addition to post-acute care?
Skilled nursing facilities strive to help patients recover in the most comfortable and supportive setting possible, which is why many offer custom care plans and amenities such as pharmacy services, individualized meal plans, transportation services, and patient/family training and education. Many skilled nursing facilities also offer planned activities, social functions, and outings when possible to heal the spirit as well as the body.
What are the benefits of post-acute care?
Full recovery at an individualized pace is the primary benefit of post-acute care services, but it’s not the only one. Studies have shown that patients receiving post-acute care after a major health episode see greater and more rapid clinical improvements compared to patients discharged to their homes. Also, coordination between hospitals and post-acute care providers helps to reduce readmissions to the hospital.
Post-acute care services you can count on
At Bella Vista Health Center, our highly skilled and reliable staff includes internal physicians, critical care physicians, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychiatrists, and registered dieticians. The compassion and reliability of our team are just a couple of reasons our patients feel comfortable, safe, and ready to focus on recovery.
If you have recently suffered a medical emergency and are in need of post-acute care services in San Diego, give us a call at (619) 644-1000 to tour our beautiful, recently remodeled 5-star skilled nursing facility, or fill out our contact form.
What is a Skilled Nursing Facility?
Trying to determine the right choice of living facility for your loved can be a frustrating experience if you’re unclear about the difference between a skilled nursing facility and a nursing home. Here’s an overview of what defines a skilled nursing facility and what kind of services and care you can expect:
When you’re in the process of making complex healthcare decisions, the last thing you need is to get tangled up in confusing terms and vague definitions. In particular, trying to determine the right choice of living facility for your loved one becomes a frustrating experience if you’re unclear about the difference between a skilled nursing facility and a nursing home. While the two types of facilities have some similarities, there are crucial differences that patients and caregivers need to know when discussing healthcare options. Here’s an overview of what defines a skilled nursing facility and what kind of services and care you can expect:
Patients remain under medical care
At a skilled nursing facility, services are provided by medical doctors, registered nurses, and licensed physical and occupational therapists. In addition to medical care, skilled nursing facilities also offer pharmaceutical, laboratory, and radiology services.
Nursing homes, in contrast, may have certified professional health care workers on staff, but they are more often run by charitable and private organizations, and don’t provide the full spectrum of care that a skilled nursing facility does.
Short-term and long-term care
While most people assume skilled nursing facilities are designed primarily for long-term senior care, they address a wide variety of medical conditions that require short- or long-term care. Other services provided by skilled nursing facilities include:
Stroke recovery
Parkinson’s care
Terminal illness care
Rehabilitation after surgery or illness
Comprehensive rehabilitation services
For patients requiring short-term care, skilled nursing facilities offer comprehensive rehabilitation following surgery or an extended illness. Rehabilitation care includes physical therapy to restore strength and balance, occupational therapy to improve everyday independence, and speech therapy to address communication issues after a stroke or other brain injury. learn more about our Stroke rehabilitation program in San Diego
Custodial care provided
Skilled nursing facilities are ideal for long-term custodial care for seniors who need around-the-clock nursing care for medical conditions or close supervision when dementia is a concern. Other services for seniors include assistance with meals, medication, personal hygiene, getting in and out of bed, and other daily activities. These services are typically provided at nursing homes as well, but the primary caregivers are certified nursing aids. At a skilled nursing facility, these services are provided by skilled, licensed professionals.
Skilled nursing facilities are licensed and regulated
One of the main differences between skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes is that the former is licensed and regulated by the state’s Department of Health Services, while the latter is not. Some of the requirements for licensing include adequate staff and equipment to provide skilled nursing care, along with a transfer agreement in place with hospitals in the event a patient needs emergency care. Licensing is also required for a facility to be certified by Medicare and Medicaid.
Skilled nursing facilities offer a variety of social activities
In an effort to distinguish themselves from “impersonal” hospital settings, many skilled nursing facilities offer a variety of social activities to keep residents active and raise their spirits. Activities can include birthday celebrations, live music, organized games, art classes, yoga, and even group outings. Social opportunities are especially important for patients receiving long-term care because they are vulnerable to feelings of isolation and disconnection.
Are you looking for a skilled nursing facility in San Diego?
At Bella Vista Health Center, we strive to create a comfortable and nurturing atmosphere where residents and guests feel informed and safe. Our 5-Star rated facility was recently remodeled and features the highest quality care plus perks like free concierge service, salon services, local transportation, nutritious and culturally diverse meals, and social activities that focus on the mind, body and spirit. We welcome you to stop by our location in Lemon Grove today. Or give us a call at (619) 399-7920 for more information about the services we provide.
We look forward to hearing from you.