Rehab Select Blog

There are many important factors that informed healthcare consumers investigate as they choose a skilled nursing facility for themselves or a loved one.

The standard list includes the overall quality of care, the comfort and atmosphere of the facility, inspection and survey reports, licensure details and staffing details – such as staff numbers, credentials and turnover rates. However, there is another very important factor that is often overlooked: Experience.

Here we'll get into what that means in this context and why it matters in terms of choosing top-quality skilled nursing care.

Choosing a skilled nursing facility to entrust with the care of yourself or a loved one is a very big deal, and doing it well means delving into a lot of details about each facility on your list of local options. Among the more important of these details are whether or not a facility has had more complaints or violations registered against it than the average facility, and whether or not those issues have been resolved appropriately. So what do you need to know about checking for complaints and violations?

If you or a loved one are in need of skilled nursing care, it is important to know that not all skilled nursing facilities are the same. While all, by definition, offer skilled nursing care, other services may differ significantly from one facility to another. For instance, some may emphasize rehabilitative services for short stay patients, while others may be more focused on long-term care. Some provide specialized medical care, while others do not. Then there are differences in quality, amenities and costs to consider. So what should you ask to be sure you choose the right facility for your needs?

If you are tackling the task of choosing a skilled nursing facility for yourself or a loved one, whether it is for a short rehabilitation stay or for long term care, the array of available options in any given area can be overwhelming. After all, most of us know just enough about such facilities to know that quality can vary significantly from one facility to another, which makes choosing carefully essential. So what do you need to know to ensure that your choice results in the high-quality care and services you need?

Admission to an Alabama skilled nursing facility is a rather complex process and one that many individuals or families find stressful and intimidating. For that reason, you will find that most, if not all, facilities provide staff assistance in managing the process. That said, knowing what to expect can ensure that you're well-prepared, with all the right facts, figures and paperwork in hand to ensure that the admissions process is as smooth and efficient as possible. Here, we'll outline the basic steps of that process to make that preparation easier.

Skilled nursing may become necessary for a number of reasons. It may be needed for several weeks or months for 24-hour care and support as a person rehabilitates from a surgery, stroke, injury or other serious medical incident. Skilled nursing care may also be needed on an ongoing basis for individuals who need round-the-clock medical care, assistance and/or supervision due to chronic health issues, degenerative diseases or disability. If you believe that skilled nursing care may be the best option for yourself or a loved one, assessing your care needs is the first step to finding out for sure – and if so, finding the right skilled nursing facility in Montgomery to meet those needs.

Have you just been diagnosed with diabetes? Or, have you had diabetes for a while now–either diagnosed or undiagnosed–so that now it must be managed?

Diabetes management doesn't have to be hard – but it does have to be done

If you have ended up in the hospital as a result of diabetic complications and need to go to a skilled nursing facility once you are stable enough for discharge but not well enough to go home, don't be discouraged. This is called "post-acute" care, and your doctor may decide that it is necessary. It is also an opportunity for you to learn how to manage your disease well, with your family's help.

Every year, over two million people in the United States have some kind of serious cardiac event that requires extensive medical attention. Myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cardiac surgeries such as coronary artery bypass or valve replacement are some examples. Many of these patients are over the age of 65, and with the aged population growing, the number of elderly patients in need of cardiac rehabilitation will also increase.

For these patients, recovery is often long and difficult, because of comorbidities, general age-related frailty, and their need to restrict physical activity during acute recovery. Skilled nursing facilities are an often overlooked resource for patients who need postacute care and cardiac rehabilitation. 

Having surgery? Not sure where you should go for your post surgical rehabilitation? Fortunately, you have a choice. Skilled nursing facilities are a valid option for inpatient rehabilitation after your surgery. Why?

They have the resources you need

Today's skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are dynamic community-based institutions that provide facilities for recovery, rehabilitation, and long-term care as needed to the residents of the area. Top-notch medical staff and professionals serve patients in the community as they recover from surgery or other medical situations.

Approximately 20 million Americans today suffer from some kind of kidney insufficiency that requires kidney disease care. Kidney diseases that can become chronic include kidney stones, urinary tract infections, or even chronic renal failure that could result in death.

Patients who need extended care and rehabilitation after an acute renal episode requiring hospitalization can receive excellent, cost-effective care in community based nursing facilities – including dialysis if necessary.