Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities

Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, provide 24-hour medical and personal care for seniors with severe, debilitating physical or mental conditions. Nursing homes offer long-term residential care and short-term rehab and skilled nursing care after a hospital stay.

Nursing home care is for seniors who require round-the-clock medical care, monitoring, and supervision, but don’t need to be in the hospital. Nursing home residents have serious chronic conditions, terminal illnesses, or cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Nursing homes differ in services and cost. Location, insurance type, and the resident’s needs will determine costs. Financing options for nursing home care include Veterans benefits, long-term care insurance, and more. Medicare and Medicaid coverage is available for those who qualify.

Nursing homes differ in the types of services they offer. Start by thinking about your loved one’s needs. Quality of care, safety, and cost are also important considerations. An in-person or virtual tour provides opportunities to ask questions and get a sense of the facility.