A nursing home care is a facility for the care of handicapped or elderly individuals. Nursing homes can also be called senior care centers, skilled nursing facilities, old folks’ homes, residential care centers, rest homes, or convalescent homes. It is mainly the responsibility of a nursing home facility to look after the needs and the hygiene level of their residents. They are also responsible for providing the necessary support to the family members of elderly people. Nursing home care has several benefits over other options such as home health care.
Unlike home health care, nursing home care does not involve the transfer of patients from one room to another nor does it include the routine daily tasks such as dressing, grooming, bathing, and eating. Rather, all activities are carried out by the staff of the facility. However, the residents do have some freedom to pursue their hobbies and recreational interests. The most common activities that the residents engage in are walking, exercising, reading, writing, and communicating with other residents.
Apart from the basic daily rate paid by the residents, nursing home care also covers the costs of medical, surgical, and dental treatments for the residents. These expenses include the cost of medicines, diagnostic tests, surgery, physical therapy, and hospitalization for minor accidents. For minor illnesses, the cost of treating the illness may include administering medications, physiotherapy, x-ray, and other specialized treatment. The cost of long-term care is borne by the family member of the resident who is aged or has a debilitating disease.
Another major advantage of Nursing homes is that the physical therapists and the Medicaid provided under the facility are well-trained professionals. They are well-versed with the requirements of the residents. Therefore, the residents can be assisted to resume their normal lifestyle quickly. Apart from regular nursing home care, the assisted living facility can also provide services such as housekeeping, meal planning, and shopping. Also, the facility can help the residents take part in group activities such as crafts, music, dances, and other community events.
One of the primary concerns of the families is the reduction of nursing home costs. As most of the time, the charges are borne by the family member of the resident, it is important to keep an eye on the costs. The cost of each service offered depends on the type of assignment being given to the resident. In some cases, the charges are lower if the resident is assigned to a patient who needs minimal assistance. For example, if a patient requires only help with the bed and toilet, these costs are generally lower than those of a patient requiring assistance with dressing and hygiene.
The nursing home care provided to long-term and short-term residents can be determined based on various factors. For the long-term residents, the rate of unemployment and the average income of the resident can be taken into consideration. This would be compared with the average income of the resident in his or her new state. In this case, the percentage of the income earned in the new state would be deducted to get the true figure for the nursing home costs. This new figure could then be compared with the cost in the old state to see if the difference between the two is greater than twenty percent.
Another factor that would determine nursing home care costs is whether the resident is covered by a Medicaid program. Residents who are covered by a Medicaid program are eligible for some or all of the medical care benefits in the home. However, the rates and coverage may be different from one state to another. For this reason, families should check with local Medicaid offices to find out if they are eligible for the medical care benefits. If you move to a new state and are eligible for Medicare, you will be automatically enrolled in the Medicare supplement plan.
Some Medicaid programs provide coverage for nursing homes even for those who are not residents of that state. To find out, contact your local Medicare office. Medicare’s long-term care plans cover the full range of inpatient and nursing home care. As with Medicare itself, the quality of the services and the number of beds in a nursing home are also factors that impact costs. Medicare Advantage Plans and Select Health Plans are additional options. Although they do not cover inpatient care, they offer extra services such as adult daycare and respite services.