Home After Hospital

Many times an unexpected hospital visit instigates many hard decisions. Whether the decisions are for your own care or for the care of a loved one, it is very important to research, visit, and choose the right path for the after-hospital care. Nursing homes are the epitome of after-hospital care for the elderly population and choosing the correct nursing home is very important. The Department of Health and Senior Services in Missouri recognizes four levels of residential care:

• A Residential Care Facility I (RCFI) provides shelter, board and protective oversight; this may mean it keeps and distributes medications and provides care during short-term illnesses or recuperation.
• A Residential Care Facility II (RCFII) provides additional services, including supervision of diets and assistance with personal care.
• An Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) provides board, personal care, basic health and nursing care services under the direction of a licensed physician and daily supervision of a licensed nurse.
• A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) provides board, skilled nursing care and treatment services commonly performed by or under the supervision of a registered professional nurse. Individuals living in an SNF require twenty-four hour care and other specialized nursing services.

Residential care is not the only avenue you can pursue after a hospital stay. Many people choose to return home. This may require outpatient physical therapy or occupational therapy, home health care, or care given by a loved one. Whatever your options, our staff at Northeast Regional Medical Center is dedicated to helping you make the choice wisely. We encourage a three step process when deciding after-hospital care:

1) Research your options. It is best to research different nursing homes before crisis strikes; however, we understand that planning ahead requires time and effort. Information about every nursing home in Missouri is available at www.dhss.mo.gov. The website contains a Nursing Home Compare tool that allows you to view a nursing home’s inspection results, current staffing, and quality measures.

2) Visit the facility. It is very important that you visit the facilities that you have been researching. Meet with the administration, the nursing department, and the safety coordinator if possible. Call in advance of your visit to arrange for someone to show you around and answer your questions. Try to visit around lunch or dinnertime. Bring a prepared list of questions (visit http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-nrshm.html#sb1 for a list of sample questions). Make a second trip to the facility unannounced. Keep in mind that this nursing home will be paid a substantial amount of money in order to reside there. It is your right to understand the nursing home’s culture and environment before choosing it. Also remember to open your eyes and ears, to be patient, and to be proactive when visiting the facility. You may be able to answer your own questions if you follow those suggestions.

3) Choose the facility that best fits your needs. Nursing home stays are not cheap; therefore, it is important to know who is financing the stay. It is also important to compare prices. Location is also important. In order to maintain the social health of the resident, visits from family and friends is needed.

Choosing the correct and most beneficial path after leaving the hospital is not an easy task. Be proactive when making your decisions. Make phone calls, ask questions, visit websites, and talk to professionals when making these decisions. Another source of information is http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Overview.asp.

Ryan Kroeger