Featured Health Tip
	How to Choose a Skilled Nursing Facility

Finding a comprehensive health care facility that meets or exceeds your loved one’s needs can be an overwhelming process. We recommend that you visit and evaluate at least three facilities before choosing the one that is right for you. The most important thing is to find a facility that meets your needs, preferences and standards. Therefore, it is important to assess what your requirements are prior to beginning your search.

Seeking the Right Support

Selecting a skilled nursing center for yourself or someone else is a very important decision. Often, the choice is made in a crisis atmosphere. But with proper planning and the use of a few guidelines, you can make the decision that best suits your needs.

Skilled nursing centers should foremost offer attention to personal care. Ideally, they should feature registered nurses, therapists and specially trained staffs who help patients feel at home. Staff members also should be attuned to the emotional needs of your loved ones and be consistently attentive, warm and caring.

Look for a Range of Services

Medical Care
Patients in nursing facilities are under the care of physicians who visit regularly and are responsible for the patients’ medications, treatments and overall plan of care. The nursing center staff follows the doctors’ orders, and every nursing facility has a physician on staff or on call.

Nursing and Rehabilitative Care
All nursing facilities require the professional skills of registered or licensed practical nurses for assessments, treatments and coordination of care. Rehabilitative services such as post-hospital stroke, heart and orthopedic care are available in addition to a wide range of therapies.

Personal Care
Personal care is provided to patients who need help with activities such as walking, getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing and eating.

Residential Care
Residential care services include general supervision, along with a variety of programs to meet the social and spiritual needs of patients.