Is Post-Acute Care the Same as Skilled Nursing?
What is post-acute care?
If you’re planning the next steps following surgery or a serious illness for which you’ve been hospitalized, you’re thinking about recovery. In some cases, the hospital staff won’t see any need for specialized follow-up services, such as wound care or physical therapy. You’re simply discharged from the hospital to home, where you’re expected to recover on your own. In other cases, however, you’ll need help recovering before you can return home. The term for this medically necessary help is post-acute care.
What are the settings for post-acute care?
Settings for post-acute care vary. Which type of post-acute care is right for you depends on the level of care you need, location, out-of-pocket costs, and support available from family members at home. There are four types of post-acute care providers:
Home Health Agencies are for patients who are able to return home but still require some degree of medical care. These agencies send licensed nurses or home health aides to patients’ homes so patients can receive rehabilitation without going to the hospital or a residential facility.
Skilled Nursing Facilities are for patients who no longer need to be in the hospital but still require a higher level of medical care than can be provided at home. Skilled nursing facilities are residential health care locations that generally offer both short-term rehabilitative care and long-term care for chronic illness.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities treat patients who require a combination of hospital-level care and intensive rehabilitation to regain the level of function needed to return home. Conditions treated at inpatient rehabilitation facilities include stroke, joint replacement, head trauma and spinal cord injuries.
Long-Term Care Hospitals offer high-level medical care similar to the care provided at a traditional hospital. However, patients can stay at these locations for an extended period of time.
The benefits of post-acute care at a skilled nursing center.
If your medical team recommends post-acute care following discharge from the hospital, you’re better off following the doctor’s orders. The combination of a homelike environment at a skilled nursing center and the extra level of assistance will help you heal faster and avoid hospital readmission. At a skilled nursing center like Arbol Residences, you can focus on getting better instead of worrying about how you’re going to cook dinner or shower and get dressed. If you experience a complication, it’s easier to get the help you need before the problem worsens.
Post-acute care at Arbol Residences.
Arbol Residences Post-Acute Care Center offers both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Our licensed and Medicare-certified skilled nursing staff provides the personalized care you would expect at a small health center or assisted living community but with all the resources of a fully equipped medical facility.
Skilled nursing services include:
- Medication management
- Cognitive/neurological and IV therapy
- Incontinence care
- Diabetic care
- Wound care
Rehabilitative services include:
- Physical therapy to improve strength, balance and mobility
- Occupational therapy to help you perform everyday tasks
- Speech therapy to improve spoken communication, swallowing and eating
- Orthopedic rehabilitation
- Neurologic rehabilitation
- Cardiac recovery
Whether you’re here for a short-term stay before returning home or a long-term stay, you’ll get the attentive care you deserve. A registered nurse is available 24/7, and staff members take the time to ensure your needs are met. In fact, staff at our skilled nursing center spend an extra hour per resident per day compared to the California average.
If needed, help with daily activities, such as bathing and dressing, will be part of your personalized care plan. And when you’re not working with your rehabilitative team, you can relax in your private suite, enjoy chef-prepared meals, and take advantage of the many activities and amenities available.
To learn how post-acute care at Arbol Residences can help you feel better and recover faster, contact us.
