Navigating the Decision: When is Skilled Nursing Facility Care Necessary?

A senior's ability to live safely in her home, and her need for 24-hour skilled nursing care, is a key consideration when deciding if she is ready to move to a skilled nursing facility - in other words, a nursing home.

Instructions

• 1

  Discuss moving into a skilled nursing facility (SNF) if a senior needs 24-hour nursing care and is no longer safe in her home. Safety issues include leaving the burners on, not closing doors or the inability to navigate dangerous stairwells.

• 2

  Is the senior aware of her surroundings? If not, this may be a sign of memory impairment (Alzheimer's disease or dementia), and she may need 24-hour care.

• 3

  Can the senior still transfer in and out of bed and take baths and showers alone? Is she able to dress by herself? Is she continent?

• 4

  Look at a senior's daily activities. Is she able to cook three meals a day, clean her home and do the laundry? Or does she require full assistance in these areas?

• 5

  Think about hiring a geriatric care manager to do an assessment of a senior family member to help you determine if the senior is ready to move to a nursing home.