<h3>What to Consider Before and After a Skilled Nursing Stay</h3>A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is an inpatient rehabilitation center focused on providing short-term treatment for older adults; this care is typically treatment after an emergency visit or for post-surgery supervision. The type of Medicare plan someone has can impact their length of stay, but residents typically receive care for around<a href="https://www.aging.ca.gov/Care_Options/Skilled_Nursing_Facilities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> 3 weeks</a> in skilled nursing facilities. Due to the high level of care provided by SNFs, licensed health professionals, such as, but not limited to, registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN), and physical/occupational therapists, typically manage the care of SNF patients.&nbsp;Many families and older adults assume that they will be able to seamlessly return to their home environment and resume their daily routine after a stay in a SNF. While in some cases this is certainly possible, for others, a SNF stay may indicate that you or your loved one may be beginning to require additional support and care in everyday life. If this is the case, it might be time to start the conversation with your family and loved one about making the move to assisted living. “Senior living can provide many benefits to a person who is dependent on care, from taking care of the daily chores of life to providing quality care and health services onsite,” says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/health/senior-living/senior-living-and-healthy-aging-plans/">Kim Elliot</a>, chief nursing officer at Brookdale Senior Living in Brentwood, Tennessee.”&nbsp;&nbsp;But if you're feeling unsure about how to approach the conversation with a family member or loved one, you're not alone. In fact, Seniorly gerontologists have created a guide for <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/health-and-lifestyle/how-to-speak-to-your-parents-about-assisted-living" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Talk to Your Parents About Assisted Living.</a> &nbsp;Studies show that the level of support offered by assisted living facilities can greatly reduce stress for the resident and family, as well as improve the health and&nbsp;<a href="https://health.usnews.com/best-assisted-living/slideshows/how-assisted-living-improves-quality-of-life">quality of life</a> of the resident through daily assistance, the opportunity for social engagement, and recreation.Take a look at the chart below to compare the difference between care types and start learning more about your options.&nbsp;<img src="https://seniorly.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/b42ba189089a981dd0d42ce2e5742ac8/Screen%2520Shot%25202022-10-17%2520at%25203.22.02%2520PM.png"> &nbsp;

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Find resources and support for caregivers so that you can offer your loved one your best self every day.



Caregivers

Nipun Chopra reviews medical and aging content for Seniorly. &nbsp;With a PhD in Medical Neuroscience from Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Chopra's research was centered on the role of key proteins in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. &nbsp;Today, Dr. Chopra is Chief Scientific Officer for Hiji Band, a frequent advisor to early stage biotech startups, and an assistant professor at Depauw University.

Chief Scientific Officer, Hiji Band

Nipun Chopra reviews medical and aging content for Seniorly. &nbsp;With a PhD in Medical Neuroscience from Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Chopra's research was centered on the role of key proteins in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. &nbsp;Today, Dr. Chopra is Chief Scientific Officer for Hiji Band, a frequent advisor to early stage biotech startups, and an assistant professor of Biology at Depauw University.

The move to a skilled nursing facility is often more than what families expect. Seniorly explains what you need to consider when contemplating a skilled nursing stay.

What to Consider Before and After a Skilled Nursing Stay

This family interview took place on November 18, 2021. Quotes from it have been edited for clarity.Many families have faced the challenge of helping elderly parents find a safe place to live, where their loved one will feel comfortable, at home, and supported as they get help with the tasks that make up daily life. Every family’s story is different, however, and we’re pleased to be able to share Roxanne’s family story with you. Her family’s search for a Florida senior living community for her mom might help you in your search.Mom’s mobility issues and reluctanceRoxanne’s mother has mobility issues: she uses a walker and cannot drive. She’s also recently had some health troubles that included wounds on her legs, which are difficult for her to reach. This, combined with the recent loss of her husband of 33 years and pandemic restrictions, meant that she lived a very isolated life in New Jersey. Roxanne and her two brothers discussed what was next for their mother so that she could live her best life. “She just wasn't getting the kind of socialization that she needed...and I didn't want her to be in her apartment watching TV for the rest of her life. That's no way to live.” <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/assisted-living">Assisted living</a> seemed like the perfect solution, but they needed to find the right place for their budget, for her mother’s needs, and they needed to get Mom on board with the idea.While Roxanne’s brothers live in New Jersey, Roxanne has homes in New York and <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/assisted-living/florida/naples">Naples, FL</a>, with plans to sell her place in NY and live in Florida full time. Knowing that New Jersey has some of the <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/senior-living-guides/the-most-and-least-expensive-states-for-assisted-living">highest costs for assisted living in the country</a>, Naples seemed like the perfect place, then, to look for assisted living for her mom. But her initial research turned up hefty price tags, “When we were first doing some of our research online we found these <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/continuing-care-retirement-community">CCRCs </a>with like $300,000, $500,000 buy-ins and you know, that just wasn't doable for our situation financially.”Additionally, coming on the heels of her husband’s death in June, Mom wasn’t very open to the idea of assisted living, saying, “I don't think I need to be institutionalized.” Roxanne explained that “Assisted living isn’t <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/skilled-nursing-facility">nursing homes</a>, a lot of them have a lot to offer. But I knew at that point, it wasn’t a good time to talk to her, with her partner passing and everything else to deal with.” Roxanne and her brothers discussed the best way to approach their mother later, when some of the initial emotional turmoil of losing her husband, their stepfather, had passed.Thorough research combined with advice from an expert“I started to do research and that's when I, just through Googling, found Seniorly and <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/agents/south/bonita-springs-fl/senior-housing-solutions-bruce-rosenblatt-">Bruce Rosenblatt</a>, who I spoke to and he gave me probably half a dozen or so places to look at.” Bruce also explained that, as opposed to CCRCs, many assisted living facilities are more like rental communities that don’t require a big, upfront buy-in.&nbsp;Roxanne decided to approach the conversation with her mother on her own, not wanting Mom to feel like her children were “ganging up on her.” As an experienced salesperson, Roxanne also decided to come to the table armed with some persuasive facts.&nbsp;“I created a list of talking points, almost like I was gonna do a presentation. You know, all the reasons why we thought this was a good idea and telling her about some of the advantages of some of the places I was researching. The way I just positioned it was, ‘I want your approval, or blessing, to go and take a look at these places and tour them.’”&nbsp;Having obtained Mom’s blessing, Roxanne “...sent her some information and some links to the places that I was looking at. Then when I went on a tour, I came home and organized my thoughts on the spreadsheet. And then I called my mother every day and was like, ‘Okay, this is what I found out today,” and was either like, ‘Yeah, this could work,’ or, ‘You know, I didn't really feel great about it.’”Roxanne also went into community tours armed with her laptop and a <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/senior-living-guides/assisted-living-checklist-questions-to-ask-on-your-tour">robust list of questions to ask</a>. “Bruce checked in and gave me some good food for thought along the way. We tried to do as much research on our own as we could because you want to form your own opinions, too.”Roxanne even <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/senior-living-guides/how-to-evaluate-assisted-living-facilities">visited some locations more than once</a>, at different times of the day, to get a feel for the energy of their staff and residents. She wanted a place that made it easy for her mother to move around with walker and join in activities and be social, as well as one that had an Extended Congregate Care license in Florida and, if possible, had experience working with <a href="https://www.genworth.com/">Genworth</a>, with whom Mom has a <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/senior-living-guides/senior-care-insurance-long-term-care-insurance-for-seniors">long term care insurance</a> policy.“We took all of that into account and we landed at <a href="https://www.rui.net/seascapeatnaples">Seascape</a>, which was one of the ones that Bruce really recommended highly. I just felt like they were kind of our partners in trying to get my mother integrated. They have a great resident ambassador program where another resident is kind of assigned to you as a new resident to get you integrated into the community, which I felt was important because you just don't wanna drop somebody in and be, you know, the new kid at school and not understand what's what.”How does Mom feel after moving into assisted living?Roxanne’s mother is thriving in her new home. “She was getting her hair done today,” Roxanne says, “the first time that she was gonna use the hair salon. So she was kind of excited to see how that would work out. And she's playing bridge again, and meeting all sorts of people with really interesting stories. Some folks who survived World War II camps and some folks of Jewish descent who came over from Europe at that time and barely made it with their clothes on their back. My mother's a real history buff and just loves to hear people's stories. She's very friendly and outgoing, so she gets to know a lot of people, which is fun.”In addition to her mother’s much more robust social life in her new assisted living community, Roxanne also has peace of mind that her medical needs are being attended to by a nurse every week. “That just, in my mind, reinforces that we did the right thing because you just can't do it all. But at that age, by yourself, when you've got limited mobility—even if she was fully mobile you just don't hear the same way, you just don't absorb it. The perspective might be a little bit off because you are getting older, you know? So there's no substitute for having a nurse take a look.”Roxanne, her brothers, and her mother still have to work through the process of filing the long term care insurance claim, having learned a lot about <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/what-are-activities-of-daily-living-adls">ADLs</a> and her policy’s coverage, but they all feel better for having Mom moved into a new home that suits her needs so well.

Find assisted living communities near you

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Hear from senior living experts, families, and seniors themselves about senior care and how to find the best fit.

Voices

Read about one family’s senior living journey and how Seniorly helped them along the way. See if Roxanne’s research tactics can help you on your journey.

Roxanne’s Family Story: a Seniorly Testimonial

Choosing an assisted living community is a major decision under normal circumstances. Today, there are even more considerations as you look for a place to call home - one that will provide a safe space to care for you or your loved one, proper support for activities of daily living, and even help you build community with other residents.<h2>The crucial role of touring assisted living facilities</h2>Once you've narrowed it down to a “short list” of options, our best advice is to visit! The more you spend time in assisted living communities, the more you'll learn about what's important to you and your family. Each community will have its own look and feel and its own unique sense of community and togetherness.&nbsp;Working with our national network of Senior Living Advisors, Seniorly has compiled expert guidance on what to look for as you visit and take an assisted living tour. Remember, the person giving you the tour is most likely used to getting a lot of questions from potential residents and their families, so don’t be shy! It’s important to be comfortable with not only the physical features of the property but also the staff, current residents, the culture, and the services and care provided.<h2>Questions about the staff of a senior living community:</h2><ul><li>Staff to resident ratio: what is the ratio of staff to how many residents? I.e., how many staff members are there?</li><li>What is the staff turnover rate?</li><li>What types of training do the staff members have?</li><li>Is the staff trained on elder abuse and neglect?</li><li>Is there a policy for reporting suspected abuse?</li><li>Do the staff members speak your or your loved one’s language fluently?</li><li>Are background checks performed on staff members?</li><li>Is there a Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, or Certified Nursing Assistant on staff?&nbsp; If so, how often?</li><li>Is there staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with <a href="https://www.seniorly.com/what-are-activities-of-daily-living-adls" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">activities of daily living (ADL)</a>, such as dressing, eating, bathing, and toileting?</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://seniorly.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/053654982609d33d633db7e7a080b4bb/pexels-kampus-production-7551622%2520%282%29.jpg"></figure><h2>Questions about resident living spaces in senior living communities:</h2><ul><li>Where residents live, do residents have the option of a private or shared room?</li><li>Can residents personalize and decorate their own apartments?</li><li>Can residents bring their favorite chair or other furniture or large items?</li><li>What furnishings are provided?</li><li>Does each room have a private bathroom, or are the bathrooms shared?</li><li>Are bathrooms designed to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?</li><li>Do rooms come equipped with 24-hour emergency response systems?</li><li>Is it possible to view all of the types of rooms available?</li><li>Is there a TV in the room?</li><li>Is cable, internet/wifi available or included in the rooms?&nbsp; If there is a fee, how is the billing handled?</li><li>Is a kitchen provided with a refrigerator, sink, and cooking element?</li><li>Are residents permitted to keep food in their apartments?</li><li>Are pets allowed?&nbsp; If so, what kind?</li><li>Is housecleaning for personal living spaces included in the price? If not, what is the fee?</li><li>Can residents lock the door to their units?</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://seniorly.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/55556a10e88063fa030b44884f940df4/pexels-pixabay-53603.jpg"></figure><h2>Questions about food in an assisted living facility:</h2><ul><li>How many meals are provided per day?</li><li>Does the menu vary from day to day?&nbsp; How often is the menu changed?</li><li>Is the food freshly prepared daily?</li><li>Is there a focus on organic ingredients?</li><li>Are there snacks, and if so, how do residents access them?</li><li>Can meals be provided at a time the resident prefers, or are there set times for meals?</li><li>Can meals be tailored to a resident’s specific needs or special requests?</li><li>Can residents take food back to their rooms?</li><li>Can visiting family members and guests dine with the residents?&nbsp; If so, is there a charge?</li><li>Is special food prepared for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays?</li><li>Are there any dishes that are especially popular with the residents?&nbsp; If so, what are they?</li><li>Can I/we sample the food? (If you sample the food, how was it?)</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://seniorly.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/8800ec6f8e390c5471d742e09a0beb80/pexels-jer-chung-2116094.jpg"></figure><h2>Questions about common spaces in an assisted living community:</h2><ul><li>What common spaces are available to residents? How much is it like independent living?</li><li>Are there any outdoor spaces?</li><li>Is smoking allowed?&nbsp; If so, where?</li><li>Are there any shared community animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, and fish?</li><li>Does the community have any special amenities or services worth mentioning, such as a beauty parlor, fitness room, therapy pool, etc.?</li><li>Is there a place where residents can do their own gardening, arts and crafts, or other hobbies? Is there a media/TV room?</li></ul><h2>Questions to ask about assisted living activity programs:</h2><ul><li>Is the Activity Professional certified? (This will ensure that activities are safe and engaging for you or your loved one.)</li><li>What types of activities are available to residents, and how often do they occur?</li><li>Is there a posted schedule of events and activities?&nbsp; (Do they match the interests of your loved one?)</li><li>Do residents interact with the surrounding community?&nbsp; If so, do residents go on regular outings, or do volunteers come into the community?</li><li>Are transportation services provided by the assisted living community?</li><li>Is there any live entertainment provided?&nbsp; If so, what kind, and how often?</li><li>Are residents actively encouraged to participate?</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://seniorly.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/b1c8ad276f1fb1f110c415aeb23c03cf/pexels-yan-krukau-6815692.jpg"></figure><h2>Questions about medication and healthcare:</h2><ul><li>What is your medication management policy?</li><li>Is self-administration of medication allowed? Is there a physician associated with this assisted living community?</li><li>What is health care like? Is memory care included?</li><li>Is there someone on staff who coordinates home healthcare visits from a nurse, physical therapist, etc., if needed?</li><li>Are services such as hospice and physical therapy available?&nbsp; If so, is there an additional charge? If so, how much?</li><li>Is there a clearly-stated procedure for responding to a resident’s medical emergency?</li><li>Is transportation offered to residents for doctor’s appointments?&nbsp; Is the transportation wheelchair/disabled-friendly? Is there a fee?&nbsp; If so, how much?</li><li>Are incontinence supplies included in the price?&nbsp; If not, what is the cost?</li><li>Is there a written plan of care for each resident?&nbsp; How often is it reviewed and updated?</li><li>Does the community have a process for assessing a resident’s need for services?&nbsp; Does this process include the resident, his or her family, and the resident’s physician?</li></ul>

<h2>Other essential questions:</h2><ul><li>Are additional care and services available if the resident needs change?&nbsp; If yes, what types of additional care and services are offered, and at what cost?</li><li>How much family involvement is possible? Can a family member visit at any point?</li><li>Is transportation available for personal or family outings?&nbsp; Is there a fee? If so, how much?</li><li>Are visitors allowed at any time, or are there specific visiting hours?&nbsp; If you have specific visiting hours, what are they?</li><li>Are residents allowed, overnight guests?&nbsp; If so, what is the overnight guest policy?</li><li>Is there parking available for residents and/or guests?</li><li>Are barber and beauty services offered?&nbsp; If so, is there an extra cost?</li><li>Are there religious services available onsite or nearby?&nbsp; If so, what kind?</li><li>What’s the official policy on sexual interaction between residents?</li><li>How does the community accommodate private time for couples if only one of them is living in the community?</li><li>Are residents required to have renter’s insurance?</li><li>Is a consumer disclosure form available that discloses personal care and supportive services, move-in and move-out policies, and all fees?</li><li>Is a residency agreement available for review before move-in? (Keep a copy and read the entire document, including the fine print.)</li><li>Is the state inspection report available for review?</li><li>What are the most common reasons a resident may be asked to move out of the community?</li><li>What is the community’s emergency preparedness strategy?</li><li>Is there a backup generator and an evacuation plan for residents?</li><li>Are there any other extra fees that we should know about?&nbsp; If so, what are they?</li></ul><h2>Other questions:</h2><ol><li>Are additional care and services available if the resident needs change?&nbsp; If yes, what types of additional care and services are offered, and at what cost?</li><li>Is transportation available for personal or family outings?&nbsp; Is there a fee? If so, how much?</li><li>Are visitors allowed at any time, or are there specific visiting hours?&nbsp; If you have specific visiting hours, what are they?</li></ol>Monday: ______________ to ______________Tuesday: ______________ to ______________Wednesday: ______________ to ______________Thursday: ______________ to ______________Friday: ______________ to ______________Saturday: ______________ to ______________Sunday: ______________ to ______________<ol><li>Are residents allowed overnight guests?&nbsp; If so, what is the overnight guest policy?</li><li>Is there parking available for residents and/or guests?</li><li>Are barber and beauty services offered?&nbsp; If so, is there an extra cost?</li><li>Are there religious services available onsite or nearby?&nbsp; If so, what kind?</li><li>What’s the official policy on sexual interaction between residents?</li><li>How does the community accommodate private time for couples if only one of them is living in the community?</li><li>Are residents required to have renter’s insurance?</li><li>Is a consumer disclosure form available that discloses personal care and supportive services, move-in and move-out policies, and all fees?</li><li>Is a residency agreement available for review before move-in? (Keep a copy and read the entire document, including the fine print.)</li><li>Is the state inspection report available for review?</li><li>What are the most common reasons a resident may be asked to move out of the community?</li><li>What is the community’s emergency preparedness strategy?</li><li>Is there a backup generator and an evacuation plan for residents?</li><li>Are there any other extra fees that we should know about?&nbsp; If so, what are they?</li></ol><h2>Assessing the tour:</h2>It will be helpful for you to take notes and rate the different aspects of each senior housing community right away, either right after or during your tour. This will help you remember the details and your impressions about a particular property when you’re comparing it with other properties later.&nbsp;Here’s a post-visit rating system you can also find in our <a href="https://assets.seniorly.com/rc/SeniorlyTourAssessmentGuide.pdf">printable Tour Assessment Guide:</a><h3>A post-visit rating system</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://seniorly.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/bca875d6236675affb9216dfae1394d5/810"></figure>&nbsp;NOTES / IMPRESSIONS:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Last, but not least...</h3>Make time to go and do something you and your loved one enjoy. This can be a difficult process, so spend some quality time together. This will help relieve stress and give you both a chance to either discuss your findings in a neutral setting, or decompress and simply enjoy each other’s company.

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Learn about different senior living options, common terms, and more so that you can make the best decisions for yourself or your loved ones.

Senior Living Guides

Take a look at our assisted living checklist before you schedule a tour. Seniorly can help you prep important questions before visiting an assisted living community.

Assisted Living Checklist: Questions to Ask On Your Tour 

Grace Kay Matelich is Seniorly’s Head of Family Operations and a trained Gerontologist. &nbsp;Grace earned her Master of Science degree in Gerontology from the University of Southern California, and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and a Certificate in Nutrition Science from Stanford University. &nbsp;Grace developed interest in the longevity sciences through her own complex health journey, and is passionate about the science of aging, the mind-body connection, illness prevention, and lifestyle interventions for age-related illnesses.<h3>Education</h3>University of Southern California, MS in GerontologyStanford University, Certificate in Nutrition Science&nbsp;Vanderbilt University, BA in Philosophy

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Growth Operations Manager

Gerontology

Nutrition Science 

Senior Housing

Assisted Living

Grace Kay Matelich is a trained Gerontologist who earned her Master of Science degree in Gerontology from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and a Certificate in Nutrition Science from Stanford University. Grace developed interest in the longevity sciences through her own complex health journey, and is passionate about the science of aging, the mind-body connection, illness prevention, and lifestyle interventions for age-related illnesses.To learn more about Seniorly's editorial guidelines, click <a href="https://web.seniorly.com/company/editorial-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here.</a>

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Grace's articles

What to Consider Before and After a Skilled Nursing Stay

Roxanne’s Family Story: a Seniorly Testimonial

Assisted Living Checklist: Questions to Ask On Your Tour

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