Choosing a skilled nursing facility for yourself or your loved one can be a big decision. The quality of a skilled nursing facility determines comfort, peace of mind, and can even impact medical outcomes after an illness, injury, or during the course of a chronic illness.
Finding a great provider can be a challenge, and Arizona offers many options, so how do you choose the right one? What factors should families consider, what amenities, therapies, or services, and what questions should families ask when considering a provider?
Whether you’re looking for the best skilled nursing facility for a stay after the hospital, for after a surgery, or for a loved one during the course of a chronic illness, Haven Health can help.
Today, we’ll share some tips on how to choose the right facility in Arizona, and why we at Haven Health believe we are the best choice for every family.
What Is A Skilled Nursing Facility?
Skilled nursing facilities are medical facilities that provide 24/7 medical care from licensed providers, including nurses working under a physician. They are different from other residential medical facilities, such as nursing homes or assisted living, because they provide complex medical care around-the-clock from medical professionals.
In addition to providing help with the activities of daily living, such as hygiene, feeding, and toileting, skilled nursing facilities provide services, such as:
- Monitoring vital signs
- Complex wound care
- IV therapy
- Injections
- Medication management
- Pain management
- Respiratory care
- Oxygen therapy
- Catheter and ostomy care
- Therapy, such as speech, physical, and occupational therapy
- Comprehensive rehabilitation services
- Post-hospital recovery
- Post-surgical recovery
- Chronic disease management
These types of care go beyond what is provided in an assisted living or nursing home. In most cases, patients in skilled nursing care will be released back home and are focused on rehabilitation.
Who Benefits From Skilled Nursing Facility Care?
Typical patients in skilled facilities are generally of two types: long-term care patients and short-term care patients.
Long-term patients are more rare than short-term patients who are focused on recovery, but they are still significant. These patients generally have chronic illnesses that need ongoing care. Care goals for those residing in skilled nursing facilities long-term most often focus on comfort and management of illnesses.
In contrast, short-term patients are the most common types of patients in skilled nursing facilities. Most often, these patients are visiting after a stay in the hospital, whether for an illness or injury, or after a surgery. In this case, skilled nursing facilities are referred to as the “bridge between hospital and home.”
Short-term patients will generally be released home after a number of days or weeks, and thus, their care is more focused on rehabilitation and therapy.
What Factors Should Families Consider When Comparing Facilities In Arizona?
When considering a skilled nursing facility in Arizona, families should consider both convenience and excellence. Families should not only choose a location that is convenient for visitors and patients alike, but facilities that are able to provide the best care and amenities.
In many cases, patients who are able to access the best care and amenities may have better medical and therapeutic outcomes. In all cases, you should choose a facility for yourself or your loved ones that are licensed and provide the right type of care and therapies necessary to recovery.
Families should consider:
Location
The location of facilities is important. Choose a facility that offers a balance of convenience and care. You may also want to choose a health group that offers multiple facilities around Arizona for continuity of care, if patients need to be moved.
Licensure
This almost goes without saying, but only licensed and accredited facilities provide care legally. The best facilities often hold additional accreditations. Make sure the facility you choose is operating within the law.
Staff-To-Patient Ratio
One of the most important numbers you’ll come across when researching skilled nursing facilities is staff-to-patient ratio. This is a measure of how many patients are cared for by each member of staff. Lower numbers are better.
Cleanliness
Clean facilities are generally better run facilities. Cleanliness suggests attention to detail. Facilities should be as clean and orderly as a well-run hospital.
Family Involvement
Choose facilities that encourage family involvement. The best facilities offer transparent communication, regular updates, medical and medication involvement, and healthy visitation times.
Specialized Services
Choose facilities that offer all of the services you or your loved ones may need, including medically necessary services, such as targeted therapies, and helpful lifestyle services, such as transportation and grooming options.
In all cases, you should choose a facility that feels comfortable, has friendly and precise staff, and is well-regarded among residents and the community.
What Amenities, Therapies, Or Services Should Top Facilities Provide?
One of the largest factors in the quality of skilled nursing care are the services and the therapies they provide. Patient outcomes are often directly tied to quality therapies. You should ensure facilities provide:
Top Quality Therapies
You should ensure you or your loved ones can get the proper therapies they need to recover and thrive. Check to make sure facilities offer at least speech, occupational, and physical therapies. Excellent facilities will often offer more targeted therapies.
Nutritious Meals
Recovering bodies need healthy food to rebuild themselves. Ensure the facility you choose has dietitian-approved meals that are both healthy and tasty.
Comfortable Amenities
Comfortable amenities include activities or services that are “nice” to have, but are not essential, and not all facilities provide them. Services, such as transportation, enrichment activities, laundry, haircuts, and more, may make you or your loved ones feel more comfortable and at home.
Personalized Care Plans
When it comes to medicine, no one-size-fits-all. Ensure that the facility creates a custom care plan for you or your loved ones, and is willing to change it as circumstances dictate.
What Questions Should Families Ask Skilled Nursing Facilities When Considering Care?
If you’re considering skilled nursing care facilities, consider asking the questions below:
- Are you licensed and accredited?
- What is your staff-to-patient ratio?
- What therapies do you offer?
- What amenities can you offer?
- Can I tour the facility beforehand?
- How do you ensure continuity of care?
- Do you offer personalized care plans?
Why Is Haven Health A Trusted Choice For Skilled Nursing In Arizona?
If you’re looking for skilled nursing care, Haven Health is trusted by thousands of families across Arizona. We offer a culture of compassion and respect, highly trained staff, and encourage family participation.
Sources:
Long-Term Care Facilities: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Other Residential Care. (2024).
Prusynski, R., et al. (2021). Rehabilitation Intensity and Patient Outcomes in Skilled Nursing Facilities in the United States: A Systematic Review.