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Skilled Nursing Care at Home

Adult Alternative Home Care has been serving the local community since 2009. We are locally owned and managed.  Founded by a nurse clinician with over ten years clinical experience working with the adult and aged population. Delivering dignified and prioritized care to those we serve. We are dedicated to employing passionate care providers who aim to deliver excellent personal and home health needs to the members we serve.

We are committed to helping those we serve get the best care that will allow them to remain safely in their homes. We believe care given in the right place at the right time preserves dignity for the elderly. We believe the adult and aged person are an integral part of the community and they will continue to be if their personal and home care needs are met in their residence.

What Is Skilled Nursing Care?

Have you been wondering if you or a loved one would benefit from skilled nursing care? What is skilled nursing care at home? What are the benefits of skilled nursing care? Does Medicare cover it? How do you know if your loved one needs it? Here’s what you should know about skilled nursing care.

What Is Skilled Nursing Care at Home?

Also known as home health care, skilled nursing care at home is healthcare delivered to a patient in their home by licensed medical professionals such as therapists, nurses, and aides to treat or manage an injury, illness, or medical condition.

Is Skilled Nursing Care at Home the Same as Home Health Care?

Yes, skilled nursing care at home is the same as home health care. However, home care provides less-skilled types of care than home health care, so you should pay attention to that wording when looking for services for you or your loved one.

What Is Home Care?

Different from home health care, home care consists of non-medical assistance that helps people age in place without needing to go to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Home care services may include [1]:

  • Assistance with toileting, bathing, grooming, and dressing
  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Grocery shopping and prescription pickup
  • Light housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Money management, like making sure bills are paid on time and help filling out forms
  • Companionship
 

Home care and home health care can both be provided at the same time to ensure a patient’s needs are fully met. 

Also, don’t underestimate the importance of companionship. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says [2]:

“Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.”

Studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation increase the risks of premature death, dementia, heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, and suicide.

Providing exceptional Skilled Nursing Care at Home for seniors and families in Elizabeth, Hillside, Cranford, Clark, Union, Livingston, West Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, & Chatham, New Jersey

Top Skilled Nursing Care at Home in Elizabeth, NJ by Adult Alternative Home Care. Wound Care, Diabetes Care, Heart Disease Care, IV Infusions, Medications

What Types of Services Are Included With Skilled Nursing Care at Home?

Skilled nursing care at home involves medically necessary, skilled services prescribed by a doctor to treat an injury, illness, or medical condition and may include:

  • Nursing care
  • Medication management
  • Infusion therapy
  • Pain management
  • Nutrition services

What Does a Home Health Skilled Nurse Do?

Home health nurses provide skilled services following a physician’s care plan for a home health care patient, including:
  • Taking the patient’s vital signs
  • Completing medical treatments
  • Administering pain medication
  • Recording symptoms in a journal
  • Facilitating communication between the patient’s doctor and caregivers

When looking for home care in Elizabeth, NJ, you won’t find a a more caring organization. View our services and change your life today.

We are dedicated to employing passionate caregivers and our clients love us. Don’t take our word for it, read our Testimonials!

What Are the Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care at Home?

Top Skilled Nursing Care at Home in Elizabeth, NJ by Adult Alternative Home Care. Wound Care, Diabetes Care, Heart Disease Care, IV Infusions, Medications
The biggest benefit of skilled nursing care at home is that the patient doesn’t need to travel to a doctor’s office or another medical facility to receive necessary services. This is crucial for people who are homebound or lack transportation and may also help avoid expensive hospital bills.  Other benefits of home health care include:
  • Improved symptom management
  • Faster recovery and recuperation after an injury or illness
  • Maintaining or improving current condition or level of function
  • Improved independence (over time)
  • Slowed decline of serious conditions
  • Regaining self-sufficiency at home
If your loved one is homebound and has health conditions that need regular monitoring or care, they may benefit from skilled nursing care.

Does Medicare Pay for Skilled Nursing Care at Home?

Medicare does cover some home health care services such as [3]:

  • Intermittent or part-time skilled nursing care
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech-language pathology services
  • Injectable osteoporosis drugs for women
  • Intermittent or part-time home health aide services
  • Medical social services

 To be eligible for skilled nursing at home, you must:

  • Be under the care of a doctor and getting services under a care plan created and regularly reviewed by a doctor,
  • Have a doctor certify that you are homebound, AND
  • Need intermittent skilled nursing care (other than drawing blood), 

Medicare does not cover:

  • Meals delivered to your home
  • 24-hour home care
  • Personal or custodial care (like dressing, bathing, or using the bathroom) if it’s the only care you need
  • Homemaker services (such as laundry, cleaning, and shopping) if it’s the only care you need

Homemaker or personal care services may be covered by Medicare if they are part of a care plan involving other covered services.

How Do I Know if My Loved Ones Needs Skilled Nursing Care?

If your loved one is homebound and has health conditions that need regular monitoring or care, they may benefit from skilled nursing care.

What to Look for When Hiring a Skilled Nursing Care Provider

When looking for a skilled nursing care provider for yourself or a loved one, you don’t want to pick the first one you find or the one with the flashiest website. As you check out various home health care agencies, here are some questions you can ask to help you choose the best one [4]:
  • Is the agency licensed by the state?
  • Can the agency provide references for the business itself and for each of its caregivers?
  • Is the agency certified by Medicare to meet federal requirements for health and safety?
  • What kind of employee screening do they do?
  • Does the staff seem helpful and friendly?
  • Are the caregivers accredited, insured, and licensed?
  • How does the agency monitor and train caregivers? Do they provide continuing education?
  • What, if any, resources does the agency provide for financial assistance?
  • Are agency fees covered by Medicare of health insurance?
  • How do they handle expenses and billing?
  • Will you get a written plan of care before service begins?
  • Does the agency work directly with you, your loved one, and healthcare providers?
  • When will the services be provided? Is 24-hour home care available?
  • How are problems addressed and resolved?
  • How does the agency address and resolve problems?
  • What procedures are in place for emergencies?
  • When can services start?

References

  1. Medline Plus, Home Care Services, https://medlineplus.gov/homecareservices.html
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions, https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
  3. Medicare, Home Health Services, https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services
  4. Mayo Clinic, Home Care Services: Questions to Ask, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609

At Adult Alternative Home Care Services, our caregivers are here to provide a wide range of home care services without sacrificing quality. Click Get Started or call 1-888-664-1769 today and learn more about all of our home care options.

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