Skilled Nursing Facility

A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)—often called a nursing home—is a licensed healthcare facility that provides 24/7 medical care and rehabilitation services for individuals who require a higher level of medical attention than what can be offered at home or in assisted living.

🏥 What Skilled Nursing Facilities Offer:

1. Skilled Medical Care

   • Care from registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs)

   • Medication management and administration

   • Wound care, IV therapy, catheter care

   • Monitoring and treatment of chronic illnesses

2. Rehabilitation Services

   • Physical therapy (PT)

   • Occupational therapy (OT)

   • Speech therapy (ST)

3. Daily Living Assistance

   • Help with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility

4. Medical Supervision

   • Regular physician visits or on-call doctors

   • Coordination with specialists

5. Long-term and Short-term Stays

   • Short-term stays for rehab after hospitalization (post-acute care)

   • Long-term stays for ongoing medical and custodial care

👵 Who Typically Needs Skilled Nursing Care?

• Seniors recovering from surgery, stroke, or serious illness who need rehab and close monitoring

• Individuals with complex medical conditions needing professional nursing care

• Those unable to live safely at home due to physical or cognitive limitations

• Patients requiring daily medical treatments or therapies

💰 Cost of Skilled Nursing Facilities

• Average costs vary by region and facility type.

• Typical U.S. monthly costs range from $6,000 to $10,000+, depending on private vs. semi-private rooms and level of care.

• Medicare may cover short-term rehab stays after hospitalization (up to 100 days).

• Medicaid and long-term care insurance may cover long-term stays for eligible individuals.

🏡 Skilled Nursing Facility vs. Other Senior Care Options

✅ Summary

A Skilled Nursing Facility provides comprehensive medical and personal care for seniors with serious health needs or rehabilitation goals, delivering around-the-clock skilled nursing and therapy services in a supervised environment.