Just as each person’s experience with the aging process is unique, so is their need for care.  Some individuals may have a short-term need that necessitates a brief hospitalization followed by rehabilitation.  For example, a person who falls and suffers a broken hip may have a two-month nursing home stay and then be able to return home for physical therapy.  Other people have more long-term needs, possibly due to Alzheimer's or a stroke, in which case care is necessary on an ongoing basis.  It is these differences in care requirements that determine the best place for a loved one.

There are two main types of care residential facilities: Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities.

Nursing Homes

There are three kinds of nursing homes: skilled nursing facilities (SNF), intermediate care facilities (ICF)and special care units (SCU). 

Skilled Nursing Facilities

These facilities offer skilled medical care as well as personal care.  They are required to provide 24-hour nursing care by registered or licensed nurses.  Typically, they care for the incapacitated person in need of assistance with many aspects of daily living (walking, bathing, dressing, eating, etc.).  At a minimum, they provide medical, nursing, dietary, pharmacy, recreational activities, and social services.

Intermediate Care Facility

These facilities are less expensive than skilled nursing facilities and offer less extensive services.  They generally serve patients who are ambulatory and need less supervision and care.  Licensed nurses are usually only available during certain hours and have many patients in their care.  At a minimum, intermediate care facilities provide medical, intermittent nursing, dietary, pharmacy, and activity services.

Special Care Unit

These units may be separate facilities or may be part of a nursing home.  They are designed especially for the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  They offer patients homelike environments as well as activities and programs conducted by specially trained providers.  These units may also include special design features, such as secured exits, small dining rooms, single-occupancy rooms, or special indoor or outdoor areas for wandering.  Currently, however, the care provided in such programs varies widely because there's no standard definition of what constitutes a special care unit.

Assisted Living Facilities

These facilities offer an excellent alternative to nursing homes for seniors who need help with their daily routines, but who do not need 24-hour care.  Assisted living facilities focus on personal care and provide little to no medical attention.  In contrast to nursing homes, assisted living facilities place a greater emphasis on personal privacy and autonomy.

Some residents spend only a short time in a nursing home while others spend the rest of their lives there.  As more choices have become available to seniors who need help, the nursing home population has declined in recent years.  With the rise of assisted living facilities people who might formerly have gone into a nursing home are able to manage with more limited care.

If you have other questions about Pennsylvania nursing homes, contact Munley, Munley, & Cartwright.  We have offices conveniently located in Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton, Harrisburg and Hamlin. Please call us at (800) 318-LAW1 or contact us online.  Our PA elder abuse attorneys are here to answer your questions and discuss how to protect your legal rights. Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. Our Pennsylvania nursing home negligence lawyers strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.