Atlanta nursing homes fulfill patients’ needs for the most advanced medical treatment outside of hospital care. Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, provide a place of residence for seniors with persistent medical problems or those rehabilitating from medical events. Our site wants to help seniors and their families understand the often difficult and emotional decision to enter into nursing care. We understand that the situation is complicated and can be confusing to many. Our goal is to present critical information about skilled nursing facilities so seniors can find the professional and compassionate care they deserve.
Some Atlanta skilled nursing facilities are capable of administering both short-term and long-term care. Most, however, focus on one type of care. Short-term care often comes in the form of physical, speech or occupational therapy. Nursing homes that specialize in short-term care want their patients to recovery quickly. Once patients have recuperated, they are often able to go back to their previous lives. Patients that still need a lesser level of care turn to options such as assisted living facilities, in home residential senior care or senior apartments. Long-term care focuses on medical and occupational treatment for patients that have severe disabilities. They may be bedridden due to general physical decline or may have Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or brain damage. Nursing home physicians, nurses and staff give continuous care to these patients. They perform tasks such as medical procedures, custodial care and do their best to help patients stay socially active.
Long-term care patients usually seek admittance into a SNF due to a degrading health condition. Their previous forms of care are no longer be able to fully treat them. Short-term care patients typically need nursing care due to a recent hospitalization from a heart attack, stroke, aneurism, fall or other acute medical crisis. Some hospitals have nursing homes attached to their facilities. Usually, a doctor will need to refer or require a nursing home stay. For short-term patients, hospital care is a vital part of the recovery process. Getting top quality hospital care can help seniors return to normal as fast as possible. In Atlanta, you can find the best quality health care, based on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey of patients’ hospital experiences, at Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Hospital and Atlanta Medical Center.
Although Atlanta area senior care costs are higher than the Georgia state median, they are still below the national average. For private nursing home rooms you can expect to pay $5,779 per month. Semi-private rooms run $5,627 per month. Assisted living facility care is affordable, with bedrooms costing $2,700 per month. Planning for the potential cost of nursing care is challenging for many patients. In some cases, seniors need help from family to cover the cost. Those with Medicare insurance will only be covered for 100 days a stay during a benefit period. Low income patients can get coverage through Medicaid, but it is not accepted at all institutions.
Making the transition to nursing care is emotional for all parties involved. Choosing the best facilities that fit a patient’s needs is the most important goal. Doing the most research possible, including visiting facilities and using the information on our site, will put seniors and their loved ones in a position to make the best decision on nursing care.