Technology, politics, medicine, manufacturing, retail, even the natural universe is in a constant state of change. Change leaves no one behind, and that includes . . . Nursing Homes. But what do most people know about nursing homes? Very little unless you live there, work there, or have a family member residing there.
If you haven’t been to visit one lately, you’d be surprised at the changes. Changes are noticeable in design, in dinning, in the quality of health care delivery, and even in daily activities [read: computers more . . . bingo less].
If visiting a nursing home in the near future is unlikely, you may be interested in learning of 6 things about nursing homes that you may have not known!
1) Nationally, the demand for the traditional nursing home is declining in spite of the fact of the dramatic increase of our aging population. What some might consider nursing home alternatives such as Assisted Living and Home Health are showing an increase in demand.
2) Nursing Homes are the nation’s MOST REGULATED ‘industry.’ Federal, State, and local rules, regulations, codes, statutes, and laws, along with regular and intensive state and federal inspections / surveys provides oversight that surpasses the scrutiny of even the nuclear industry!
3) Not-for-Profit nursing homes, when compared to For-Profit nursing homes, consistently rate higher for resident satisfaction, lower staff turn-over, and less regulatory deficiencies.
4) The majority of revenue for our nation’s nursing homes come from Medicaid and Medicare (Federal and State reimbursement subsidies).
Those reimbursement sources do not fund nearly the costs for the nursing homes to provide care to its residents. They are left to find other ways to make up the losses.
5) Many times after someone is discharged from surgery from a hospital (acute care), and especially in the case of older people, rehabilitation therapy is often ordered by the physician. Only nursing homes (SNF – skilled care facilities) are licensed to provide this therapy (subacute) care. The goal is to complete successful physical, and/or occupational, speech therapy and be discharged to go back to one’s private home. In other cases, Home Health Care agencies provide this therapy in the private home as directed by the doctor.
6) Under the new National Health Care Reform legislation, ACO’s (Accountable Care Organizations) are being established to coordinate patient care having acute care, subacute care, long term care, and home health care organizations work together to provide cost effective and comprehensive health care.
Tags: Nursing Homes; Cedar Community; Blog; Nursing Home Blog; Technology; Regulations; Medicaid; Medicare