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10 Facts About Skilled Nursing Facilities

May 23, 2023
Charlesgate nurse and resident

Over 4 million nurses in the United States provide tremendous care for those who need it. Nurses are particularly important in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) where care is often complex and an individual’s health status may change quickly. To celebrate Nurses Month, here are 10 facts about skilled nursing facilities.

  1. Outside of a hospital, SNFs provide the highest level of medical care possible.
  1. SNF residents receive care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by licensed nurses; a doctor supervises the nurses.
  1. In addition to registered nurses, SNFs employ other medical professionals including physical and occupational therapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, and nutritionists.
  1. Stays at SNFs can be for short-term acute treatment and rehabilitation, as transitional care meant to get someone back home, or for longer stays for people with chronic conditions.
  1. Medicare will cover stays at SNFs if recommended by a doctor; coverage includes medications, social services, medical equipment and supplies, and meals. Veterans benefits, long-term insurance, and private health insurance may also cover costs.
  1. Rooms at SNFs are private or semi-private. Often there are community areas, like living rooms, dining areas, or outdoor gardens and porches.
  1. To keep residents safe, SNFs frequently have non-skid floors, handrails, and handicap accessibility throughout.
  1. A lot of SNFs have terrific amenities, such as cafes, libraries, fitness centers, and beauty shops.
  1. SNFs are regulated, monitored, and inspected by state agencies and by Medicare and Medicaid. Their scores are public records that can be found online.
  1. In 2022, over one million people stayed at a skilled nursing facility.

Over 25% of the workforce in SNFs are healthcare practitioners; many of them are nurses tending to individuals, providing great care for everyone. Charlesgate has provided skilled nursing services in the heart of Providence for over 35 years; we couldn’t have done it without the nurses who make the difference.

For information on our skilled nursing facilities, please click here.

Sources: CMS; AssistedLiving.org; VeryWell Health; United Healthcare; SeniorsGuide.com; Kaiser Family Foundation.

Categories: Caregiving, Senior Health