Yakima Nursing Homes Information

Doctors, nurses, nursing aids, therapists, social workers, specialists and non-medical personnel are on hand to offer around-the-clock health management, evaluation and observation.

Nursing care is generally broken into two main categories, short-term and long-term care. Apart from those general amenities, certain Yakima skilled nursing facilities have a care units that focus on the treatment of specific health issues, like dementia or memory loss.

A majority of short-term patients need rehabilitation services to recover from the effects of falls, strokes, heart attacks, aneurisms or other acute medical events. Patients are often funneled from hospital care to a short-term stay for closer medical examination. This type of outpatient care is an intermediate stage of a patient’s recuperation. Nursing professionals determine the best possible path of recovery to help patients restore their strength and function to a point where they can pursue less comprehensive care options. Patients often see rapid progress through occupational, physical, speech or respiratory therapy. Discharged patients frequently move to assisted living or in home care.

Hospital care is the primary form of medical treatment for three of every four short-term nursing patients. Getting proper hospital care can get patients off on the right track to an effective recovery. The hospitals in the Yakima area with the highest ratings for patients’ hospital experiences are Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.

Long-term nursing care admits patients who have serious medical problems. Some residents are partially to fully bedridden due to decrease motor control or may have diagnoses like Alzheimer’s, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease or hypothyroidism. Many patients seek long-term care because they are experiencing a decline in their condition. Nursing professionals look to stabilize or reverse this trend by delivering responsive and extensive courses of action. Doctors and nurses offer 24/7 monitoring and perform medical procedures like blood testing, injections, medication adjustments, colostomies, tracheotomies, wound care and intravenous therapy. Non-medical caregivers assist patients with activities of daily living that are hindered by health issues. Patients’ social welfare and independence are maximized through daily home-wide events, games, activities, dinners and outings.

Nursing care costs in Yakima are slightly above the national average but well below the Washington median level. Semi-private SNF accommodations have a monthly cost of $6,159, $1,200 per month lower than the state median. Private nursing home rooms cost $6,768 per month, over $1,300 per month below the median.

Seniors and patients who are eligible for government benefits under Medicare and Medicaid need to be aware of the benefits they deserve and the limitations and requirements of each. Medicare covers seniors and those with disabilities who have spent at least three days in a hospital before moving to a nursing home. The program covers 100 days of nursing stays in one benefit period. The first 20 days are fully covered. Patients must pay a co-payment fee for the next 80 days. Medicaid is a joint state and federal program that provides support for patients with limited income. Eligibility rules differ from state to state and only certified facilities are able to treat patients under Medicaid.