Understanding Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Convalescent Home Differences
When you or a loved one needs the services of skilled nursing, a convalescent home or a rehabilitation center in the Swansea, IL area, you are probably under some pressure to make an informed decision quickly. There are differences between these three types of care facilities and having an understanding the terminology is the first step in choosing the right care.
Use this guide as a starting point to help you best understand which type of care facility is best for you or your loved one. It’s important to remember that there may be some crossover and combinations of services offered at any type of facility.
What is a Nursing Home?
Nursing Home is the general name for long term care facilities also known as skilled nursing facilities. These facilities can offer long-term care ranging from only housing and housekeeping at a bare minimum, to providing personal care and even medical services. Some even offer programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Learn more about nursing homes here.
Nursing homes are often a good choice when short term care isn’t a realistic option, when long term illness is continuous and when a person needs ongoing assistance with the activities of daily living. This is an option when a person requires more ongoing and continuous assistance than can be provided by the person him or herself or by family members.
We often think of nursing homes as strictly senior care, but they are also options for younger people who due to physical or mental limitations require a care plan or ongoing assistance.
There are several general levels of care provided at nursing homes:
- Board and Care Homes – These are residential care facilities or group homes, and are usually smaller and often times private facilities. While some personal care and meals may be provided, medical care and skilled nursing are most often provided off site.
- Assisted Living – These facilities generally provide the next level of care as their title suggests. In an assisted living facility various levels of care are often offered and priced accordingly. These usually include all meals, personal care assistance, medication assistance and 24-hour supervision.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities are life care communities offering many levels of service in one location. In these communities, the level of care provided depends on the level of service you need.
What is a Rehabilitation Center?
Mercy Rehab in Swansea, Illinois is a Rehabilitation Center. Rehabilitation Centers are facilities providing these various types of therapy:
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Therapy
Rehabilitation centers like Mercy Rehabilitation and Care Center in Swansea, offer in-house rehabilitation monitored and practiced by certified and licensed therapists, doctors, nurses and CNAs.
Rehabilitation Centers usually accept most insurance including Medicare and Medicaid. These facilities offer room and board and meals are served in private or public dining areas and sometimes as a part of therapy.
Rehabilitation Centers usually do not offer long-term or terminal care, although Mercy Rehab does offer Hospice Care in the St Louis and Metro East area and other palliative care through our Hospice and Respite services.
The main goal of a rehabilitation center is to get the patient back to as high a level of functionality as possible. For instance, after a hospital stay for a hip or knee replacement, a rehabilitation center would be a likely choice to get a patient back to normal mobility before their return home through physical therapy.
What is a Convalescent Home?
Convalescent care is care that helps a person recover from an illness or operation. Convalescent Centers or Convalescent Homes often straddle the middle ground between Rehabilitation Centers and Nursing Homes.
Also referred to as Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities or IRFs, Convalescent Centers help patients recover from set backs or injuries. About 70% of patients at convalescent homes will be discharged back to their own home, while statistically around 30% are often admitted into long-term care facilities.
Mercy Rehab is a Rehabilitation Center Conveniently Located in Swansea, IL
Learn more about how Mercy Rehabilitation & Care center can help you or your loved one regain their independence in our attractive, conveniently located Swansea, IL facility. To discuss care options now, call: (618) 236-1391
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