Today's Nursing Centers - Not Your Grandmothers Nursing Home

When talking to people about nursing homes you get drastically different opinions. People who have experienced the service either have a strong dislike or deep appreciation for the services provided. Those that have not experienced nursing homes usually have a poor perception that is drawn from the opinions and negative media coverage. All to often the stories of abuse and neglect remain in the minds of the perspective consumer and prohibits them form choosing nursing centers as a health care option.

No one wants to go to a nursing home. Furthermore, most people are confused when nursing homes are presented as a rehabilitative care option. This is because most people associate nursing homes with the frail elderly. The fact is that nursing homes, now called nursing centers, are places where a variety of health care treatments are available that get people on their feet and back into living again. In this article I will attempt to dispel some of the common myths about nursing homes and educate you on how today's Nursing Centers are Not Your Grandmothers Nursing Home.

Today's Nursing Centers are places where patients can go to receive a variety of services. Compared to the old Nursing Home concept, Nursing Centers are almost like mini hospitals taking care of a variety of diagnostic needs. They also have a number of services available that you might find in a hospital. Nursing Centers can handle everything from surgical recovery to severe respiratory illness. They have nursing staff and nursing assistants that can provide treatments and monitoring around the clock. Physicians are also available 24 hours a day on site or on call. Physicians are able to make changes to a patients treatment regimen and those orders can be executed immediately by the skilled nursing staff.

Nursing Centers also have full service rehabilitation available. Although not as intense as a inpatient hospital rehab, the physical rehab provided at a nursing center is very effective in helping patients return to an productive lifestyle after an illness or injury. Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies are provided in a Nursing Center rehab program and work together as a team to treat the patients condition.

In fact, nursing centers have whats called an interdisciplinary team. Although not exclusive to Nursing Centers, Interdisciplinary teams work to help the nursing home resident meet their treatment goals. The interdisciplinary team is made up of a physician, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, recreation therapist, dietitian and social worker. If needed the speech therapist may also be involved. The team meets on a regular basis to discuss the residents goals and treatment outcomes. Families are welcome to sit in on these meetings as they are a key member of the residents support system.

The latest innovation in the nursing home industry is the development of the CCRC concept. CCRC or Continuous Care Retirement Communities offer residents the opportunity to age in place with all service needed to do so under one roof. CCRC's are also sometimes referred to as life care facilities.

A typical CCRC would have all levels of care including: independent living, assisted living, short term rehabilitation and long-term care. Other may also include specialized services like dialysis units or Alzheimer's care units. The concept behind a CCRC is to provide the resident all necessary medical intervention seamlessly without having to transfer between facilities to receive different levels of care. A resident at one of these communities would have the piece of mind knowing that, as they age, their every medical need will be taken care of as those needs arise. They will also rest easy knowing that services needed will already be paid for by insurance and a pre-payment made by the resident on admission.

As mentioned earlier, no one wants to go to a nursing home. However,many seniors have to use the service to rehabilitate and recover after a set-back in their health condition. You should always consider nursing centers, and their cost, in your future health care and retirement plan. Sit down with a retirement planner or elder law attorney to discuss strategies on how to utilize and pay for these services if they are needed. Failure to plan for this possibility will limit your options and may force you to chose a provider you are not comfortable with.

Here a few steps you can follow to help prepare:

1. Consult an elder law attorney or retirement planner to determine strategies on how to pay for nursing center services.

2. Discuss types of health services you wish to utilize with your family members so they understand your wishes. Also discuss treatments and treatment options like ventilators, feeding tubes etc.

3. Research the nursing centers in your area and tour them. That way you have a better understanding of the service while in the planning.

As you can see nursing centers are a viable health care option. With a little advance planning you can take the unknown out of nursing center care and know how to chose one if needed.