Alexandria Nursing Homes

The AssistedSeniorLiving website aims to give seniors and their families the essential information about the many complexities of nursing care, so they can reach a decision for a nursing home that is appropriate for their medical needs, is affordable and is in a convenient location.

Alexandria nursing homes cater to the needs of patients who seek the highest levels of medical, social and custodial care outside of a hospital. Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, are residential care facilities that treat patients who suffer from various illnesses and diagnoses. Facilities are run by a fully staffed team of caregivers, including registered and licensed physicians and nurses, certified nursing assistants, specialists, therapists, non-medical personnel, housekeepers and food service workers, who offer periodic to continuous supervision. Patients mainly use nursing care to manage long-term health concerns or as part of their post-operative or post-hospital recovery.

The cost of monthly residency at an Alexandria skilled nursing facility is well under the national average but slightly higher than the Louisiana median level. Private SNF rooms cost $4,844 per month, a little over $100 per month above the state median. Semi-private SNF accommodations bear a monthly cost of $4,676, about $250 per month more than the Louisiana median.

Area nursing homes offer certain services outside of their two main functions, short-term and long-term care. Respite care is designed to aid the family caregiving dynamic. This service gives short periods of nursing care to patients of family caretakers. This brief break from the normal routine of caregiving helps both sides of the relationship replenish their energy, so future care can be more committed and more effective. Adult day health care is used by caregivers who have to work during the day but have patients that cannot live independently at home.

Short-term care delivers various types of rehabilitation to patients who were hospitalized for surgeries, falls, aneurisms, cardiac arrest, strokes or other acute medical trauma. While in the hospital, patients are directed by their doctor to stay at a short-term nursing facility if they need more time to recover. Quality hospital care can help patients quickly recover from the ill effects of their trauma. The best health care centers in the Alexandria area, based on patients’ hospital experiences, are Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and Huey P. Long Medical Center. Some short-term facilities are attached to hospital campuses but many are free-standing institutions. Newly admitted patients are assessed by nursing professionals and placed on a personalized care plan. Patients undergo rehabilitation like speech, auditory, respiratory, physical or occupational therapy to rebuild functioning to a level appropriate for a move to a less inclusive care option. Discharged patients are usually not ready to return to normal living. They often transfer to an assisted living facility or in home care arrangement.

Long-term care is for patients who have progressive, permanent, terminal, chronic and serious medical conditions like paraplegia, cancer, dementia, emphysema, diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s. Oftentimes, these patients come from a lower level of care that could no longer treat their condition. All members of a facility’s staff of caregivers are involved in keeping patients happy and comfortable. Doctors and nurses keep patients on their care programs and execute medical procedures like regular check-ups, CPR, enteral feeding tubes, catheter care, medication adjustment, mobility exercises and injections. Non-medical personnel help patients who need assistance with daily living tasks and hygiene. Social services like weekly outings, spiritual guidance, recreational opportunities, intergenerational activities and interaction between staff and patients are designed to support patients’ mental well-being and keep their quality of life at a high level.

The best way to personally find out if a nursing home is the right one for you and your loved ones is to schedule a visit. Researching the facilities of interest in your area beforehand can help you form a list of nursing homes to see. During visits it is important to get a handle on the atmosphere of the facilities. Taking note of the facility’s cleanliness and patient and staff interaction are important indications of the overall quality. Nursing homes that feel upbeat, friendly and smell and look clean are more likely to provide the best possible services.