What Qualifies a Patient for Skilled Nursing Care?
December 1, 2023
Caring for an aging parent or relative with complex medical needs requires careful consideration, compassion, and access to reliable information.
When your loved one needs a high level of care to meet their unique health care needs, skilled nursing care may be the answer.
It’s important to know what skilled nursing care is, what qualifies a patient for skilled nursing care, and what kinds of health services skilled nursing care provides.
With this information, you can make an empowered decision when it comes to skilled nursing care for your loved one.
What Is Skilled Nursing Care
Skilled nursing care means getting specialized health care from trained and licensed professionals. These professionals often registered nurses or nurse practitioners, have advanced skills to give a higher level of care compared to basic or routine care.
This kind of care is needed when someone has complex medical needs that can’t be handled by non-medical caregivers or in a less specialized place. It’s important for situations like recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, rehab after an injury or illness, or receiving intravenous medications.
What Qualifies a Patient for Skilled Nursing Care?
To qualify for skilled nursing care, health care professionals will consider certain factors regarding your loved one’s needs.
Complex Medical Needs
If your loved one has serious medical conditions needing high-level expertise and monitoring, they may qualify. This includes recovering from surgeries, managing chronic illnesses, or dealing with acute medical problems.
Post-Hospitalization Care
If your loved one recently had surgery, hospitalization, or medical procedures and needs continued care during recovery, they may qualify. This includes specialized care like wound management, intravenous medications, and rehabilitation.
Chronic Health Conditions
Your loved one may have ongoing health issues like heart failure, COPD, diabetes, or neurological disorders that may qualify if their conditions need ongoing management and medical attention.
Rehabilitation Needs
If your loved one is undergoing rehabilitation, like physical, occupational, and speech therapies, to regain or improve their abilities after an injury or illness, they may qualify.
Intravenous (IV) Medications
Your loved one may enter skilled nursing care if they need intravenous medications or fluids, especially when close monitoring is necessary.
Wound Care
Complex wounds, surgical incisions, or injuries requiring specialized care and monitoring may make your loved one eligible.
Medication Management
If your loved one has a complex medication routine that needs careful monitoring and adjustment, they may qualify.
Functional Limitations
Significant difficulties in daily tasks like bathing, dressing, or eating may qualify your loved one for support.
Physician’s Recommendation
A doctor’s assessment and recommendation play a crucial role in determining the need for skilled nursing care.
Skilled Nursing Services
Skilled nursing provides a variety of essential health care services. In this level of care, your loved one can receive the following:
1. Medical Monitoring
Regular monitoring of vital signs, medication management, and assessment of overall health
2. Wound Care
Treatment and care for wounds, including surgical incisions or injuries, to promote healing and prevent infections
3. Rehabilitation Services
Physical, occupational, and speech therapies to help individuals regain or improve their functional abilities
4. Pain Management
Administration of pain medications and implementation of strategies to alleviate discomfort
5. IV Therapy
Administration of intravenous medications or fluids, when needed
6. Patient and Caregiver Education
Providing information and training to patients and their families on managing health conditions, medications, and post-care procedures
7. Assistance With Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Helping patients with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating when they are unable to perform these activities independently
Skilled Nursing at Essex Meadows
Essex Meadows, honored with the Connecticut Top Nursing Homes 2022 award, redefines skilled nursing care in Essex, CT. Our expert team combines knowledge and compassion to exceed expectations, offering person-centered care for both short-term recovery and long-term chronic conditions.
With a 24/7 presence of registered and licensed nurses, our skilled nursing facility goes above and beyond. We create individualized care plans upon arrival, and our associates undergo rigorous screening to ensure top-tier caregiving.
Our accolades, including recognition by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and U.S. News & World Report, highlight our commitment to excellence. Explore our exceptional services, including post-hospital care and homelike long-term care, as well as amenities such as fine dining and personalized attention.
Discover Essex Meadows’ unparalleled approach to skilled nursing. Give us a call today at (860) 248-6371 to learn more about our skilled nursing services.
