If you or a loved one is searching for long-term or short-term care options after a change in health, skilled nursing in a senior living community can be very beneficial for maintaining a comfortable and high-quality lifestyle with confidence.
But what exactly is skilled nursing and is it the same as other senior care options? Read on to get the answer to this question and learn why this level of care is the best path to recovery.
Are Assisted Living Services the Same?
Whereas assisted living services provide just the right amount of help with activities of daily living (ADLs) to help individuals lead an independent lifestyle, skilled nursing neighborhoods are designed for older adults who require full-time assistance with most, if not all, ADLs.
Activities of daily living are essential tasks that must be completed each day to live a high-quality life and include:
- Personal grooming
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Eating
- Comfortably and safely using the bathroom
- Safely moving around one’s home and community with little to no assistance
Residents in skilled nursing usually require a higher standard of short-term or long-term care that can’t be easily provided by family caregivers or assisted living services. It’s typically recommended for older adults recovering from an injury or illness, transitioning from the hospital, or living with a chronic health condition.
Unlike most assisted living services, Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing for up to 100 days per benefit period if:
- You have Medicare Part A and have days left in your benefit period to use
- You have a qualifying inpatient hospital stay
- Your doctor recommends daily skilled care for you
- The services you need are available in a Medicare-certified community or neighborhood
Learn more about Medicare and how it helps you cover the cost of certain senior health services on Medicare.gov.
Residents Receive Compassionate Support With 24/7 Medical Care and Help with ADLs
Skilled Nursing provides round-the-clock support to individuals who require ongoing medical care performed by licensed nurses. Our team at Sierra Winds works closely with residents and their families to develop individualized care plans that provide a comfortable and enriched lifestyle.
In addition to assistance with ADLs, services can also include:
- Personalized care plan
- Medication management and monitoring
- Dietary counseling
- Diabetic management
- Medical social services
- Medical monitoring
- Intravenous (IV) care
- Complex wound care for slow or non-healing wounds
- Management, maintenance and supervision of specialized medical equipment
Our community also provides a variety of convenient services and amenities, including cooked-to-order meals with flexible dining hours, laundry services, and large semiprivate and private rooms with cable TV and phone.
Residents Also Benefit from Tailored On-site Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy
Sierra Winds provides speech, occupational and physical therapy performed by a team of interdisciplinary professionals. Each therapy takes place right here on campus and is completely tailored to suit every resident’s individual needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
Here are a few ways rehabilitation therapies can benefit you or a family member:
Speech therapy. This therapy addresses issues with speaking and swallowing. It’s particularly beneficial for older adults who have experienced a stroke or those who have difficulty chewing and swallowing because of cognitive decline. Speech therapy can also help with speech issues due to the natural aging process.
Occupational therapy. Occupational therapists can help older adults recovering from an injury or illness return to their everyday activities and regain independence by helping them improve their basic motor skills, strength, dexterity, range of motion, and mobility. This not only helps prevent future falls, but allows seniors to return to their independent lifestyle with more confidence.
Physical therapy. Physical therapy is ideal for people who have difficulty managing chronic pain because of an injury or chronic condition such as a hip fracture, joint replacement, arthritis, or osteoporosis. It can also prevent future falls by reducing leg and foot pain, while increasing muscle and gait strength.
Residents can also enjoy outdoor walking paths surrounded by beautiful landscaping; our innovative spa and meditation rooms; accessible whirlpool tub; and social, educational, musical, and recreational programs.
Discover Personalized Senior Care and Discover the Path to Feeling Better Faster
Our Health Center at Sierra Winds provides exceptional senior care, and has earned high ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. While current residents have priority access to our health care services, we welcome all seniors for direct admission. Contact our team online or call us at 623-738-2692 to learn more about the health care services at our senior living community in Peoria, AZ.
