The level of support your loved one needs after a hospital stay will depend on the type of post-hospital care they need. If they need physical therapy, rehabilitation services, or nursing care, Skilled Nursing may be the right fit compared to Assisted Living.
Our compassionate advisors at the Healthcare Center at Buck Creek can help you explore post-hospitalization senior care options. Whether your loved one needs long-term Skilled Nursing Care or Short-Term Rehabilitation, we’re here to help your loved one recover and get back to doing what they love, in whatever setting your loved one calls home.
Key Takeaways: Skilled Nursing Vs Assisted Living During Recovery
- Skilled Nursing offers support for personal care and medical needs, while Assisted Living focuses on support with personal care, social engagement, and daily tasks.
- Skilled Nursing Centers can provide Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care following a hospitalization.
- Our interdisciplinary team meets daily to coordinate your loved one’s care, so nothing falls through the cracks during recovery.
Table of Contents
What Does Skilled Nursing Provide?
What Is Assisted Living?
Payment Options for Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living
Quick Reference Guide to Skilled Nursing vs Assisted Living
Speak with Our Team and Get Peace of Mind
What Does Skilled Nursing Provide?
A Skilled Nursing Center is a home-like setting that provides 24-hour medical care, including intensive nursing, Advanced Wound Care, and Short-term Rehabilitation. Short-Term Rehabilitation can be especially important after a hospitalization. It can help your loved one to:
- Rebuild strength
- Increase range of motion
- Learn techniques for functioning with changes in abilities
- Reduce fall risk
You may think of a nursing home as a hospital-like setting, which was often true during previous generations. Today’s Skilled Nursing Centers are often beautiful home-like settings with round-the-clock medical support. This is what you’ll find at Buck Creek, along with a loving team focused on helping your loved one reach and maintain their highest level of functioning. We offer advanced treatment options for residents with basic and complex needs. Our services include:
- Advanced Wound Care
- PICC line management
- Feeding tube support
- CPAP and BiPAP respiratory support
- Tracheostomy care
- Chest tube and cardiac monitoring
Complex needs often require care from multiple providers. Our interdisciplinary team holds clinical meetings daily and provides care coordination, so your loved one’s care is seamless and personalized.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted Living is a residential setting for seniors who are largely independent but want support with daily activities. It may be a good fit if your loved one is healthy overall and just needs a little extra support with tasks like bathing, dressing, housekeeping, and meal preparation.
After a hospital stay, Assisted Living still only offers support with daily tasks. Assisted Living usually does not provide wound care, diabetes monitoring and support, two-person wheelchair transfers, IV therapy, feeding tube support, or rehabilitation services.
At Buck Creek, our warm and inviting team can help support your loved one’s post-acute recovery with compassion and genuine care. Assisted Living may be a good option after an initial recovery period, and our social work team can help your loved one make that transition when they’re ready.
Payment Options for Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living
The cost of care is a common concern for families, and coverage can be confusing.
- Medicare often covers Short-Term Rehabilitation services, but not Long-Term Care in either Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Centers.
- Medicaid and VA benefits offer some long-term care options in Skilled Nursing Centers if your loved one qualifies.
- VA benefits and Alabama Medicaid’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver may provide some coverage options for Assisted Living services outside of Room and Board for those who qualify.
Our supportive and friendly advisors can help you explore your loved one’s options.
Quick Reference Guide to Skilled Nursing vs. Assisted Living
Still unsure of which option is right for your loved one? Our comparison table can help.
| Service | Skilled Nursing | Assisted Living |
| Personal care assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Medication management | Yes | Sometimes |
| Surgical site wound care | Yes | No |
| 24/7 nursing supervision | Yes | Sometimes |
| Diabetes monitoring | Yes | No |
| Social activities | Yes | Yes |
| PICC line support | Sometimes | No |
| Feeding tube support | Yes | No |
| Urinary catheter maintenance | Yes | Sometimes |
| Medication administration | Yes | No |
| Care Coordination | Sometimes | No |
| Memory Care | Yes | Sometimes |
| Short-Term Rehabilitation | Yes | No |
At Buck Creek, you can find support with all of these services. Our professional and trustworthy team carries out a personalized, coordinated care plan daily with compassion, integrity, and dignity.
Speak with Our Team and Get Peace of Mind Today
Our welcoming team is here to provide personalized support and guidance to help your loved one recover from a hospitalization and get back to doing what they love. All you have to do is reach out, and our caring team will be there to answer your questions and help you find peace of mind. Contact us today to get started.