Whether you’re seeking permanent residency in a nursing home or are looking for temporary round-the-clock care in an assisted nursing facility, it’s important to understand the role of nurses in these facilities. Choosing a facility with top-notch nurses will guarantee you or your loved one will receive the best care possible.
What is the role of a nurse in a nursing home?
Nurses in assisted living homes play an essential role in caring for the nursing home residents. Nursing home nurses ensure the residents and patients are properly cared for in terms of medication and daily necessities or tasks. Whether the resident requires assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and personal care or medical care, a nursing home nurse is guaranteed comfort and care.
What is the significant role of a nurse in the homecare setting?
The role of a nurse with seniors and assisted living nurses is to help residents of the facility live comfortably while focusing on their health or recovering from an illness or surgery. A skilled nursing facility nurse and an assisted living facility nurse will recognize the needs of the residents. They can provide the most appropriate care for their specific needs. Whether helping a patient with personal hygiene or administering medication, these specialized facility nurses are always eager to help.
What is the main purpose of a nursing facility?
The definition of a skilled nursing facility is any inpatient facility that offers medical care and rehabilitation services by trained medical professionals. Nursing facilities offer skilled nursing services to provide the residents with the best accommodations.
Typically, after a hospital stay, patients may have the option to reside in a nursing care facility in order to achieve the best possible outcome and recovery for the illness or surgery from which they are recovering. Staying in a skilled nursing facility allows patients to transition into life at home much better than they would have had they returned home straight from the hospital. These facilities provide resources to make patients comfortable returning to normal and navigating post-hospital life.
It’s important to realize that the purpose of these facilities is not for long-term care. Rather, nursing facilities aim to help patients return to their normal, independent lives as much as possible. In order to return to a sense of normalcy and maximal recovery, the medical professionals in a nursing facility provide 24/7 supervision, with some of the most common reasons for this close monitoring being:
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Respiratory care
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Physical therapy
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Speech pathology
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Audiology
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Occupational therapy
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Recovery after surgery
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Wound care
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Monitoring of vital signs, medications
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IV therapy
What is the main purpose of an assisted living facility?
If you’re wondering whether a nursing home or an assisted living facility is appropriate for your needs, it’s very important to understand that while there is an overlap between what these facilities have, there are also significant differences between what each type of facility offers. Simply put, an assisted living facility is a form of housing that focuses on allowing residents and patients to live as independently as possible while accessing medical treatment or other assistance when needed.
Despite this emphasis on independent living, assisted living facilities offer medical care and physical therapy, among other healthcare services, to provide the maximum opportunities for residents to live a healthy life. Learn more about how Haven Health’s assisted living facilities offer skilled nursing services for assisted living residents.
Some of the most common services offered by assisted living facilities include:
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Life enrichment and recreational programs: Opportunities to participate in educational and recreational activities are key features of assisted living communities
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Personal care: Assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and mobility
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Medication management: Assistance with medication management or administration as prescribed by healthcare professionals
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Transportation: Access to transportation for medical appointments, shopping trips, and social outings
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Social activities: Organized events, gatherings, hobbies, and exercise classes to promote mental stimulation and social interaction among residents
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24-hour staff availability and emergency response: Trained assisted living nurses are available around the clock to ensure safety and respond promptly in case of emergencies
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Healthcare support services: Depending on the facility’s level of care capabilities, they may offer onsite medical assistance like monitoring chronic conditions, wound management, dementia care, or providing therapy sessions
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Meal preparation: Healthy meals are provided according to residents’ dietary needs and preferences
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Housekeeping: Regular cleaning and maintenance of living spaces and common areas
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Laundry services: Assistance with personal laundry or access to communal laundry facilities
These services are offered in order to provide patients with the optimal chance of recovery and maintaining a healthy and balanced well-being. It’s necessary to remember that assisted living facility services vary from facility to facility, so it’s important to ensure the facility you choose for yourself or your loved one has the proper accommodations suitable to your specific needs.
Sources:
Assisted Living: Increased Need for Nurses.
Long-Term Care Facilities: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Other Residential Care.
What’s the Difference Between a Skilled Nursing Facility and a Nursing Home?