It is a difficult decision to seek placement in a skilled nursing facility. Selecting the right facility is important.

Most skilled nursing facilities still offer long term care for residents who require daily assistance on a long term basis. Additionally, many facilities now offer programs to assist individuals that require rehabilitation. These facilities may offer rehabilitation on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Nearly all facilities will offer some type of rehabilitation to their residents. Therapies will usually include at minimum, physical, occupational and speech therapies.

With the trend toward shorter hospital stays, there has emerged Subacute Care to bridge the gap between hospital and home. Many facilities also provide respite or short term care (usually for a month or less) to provide a break for caregivers. Some facilities also have specialized units, such as Alzheimer's/Dementia units, to care for residents with special needs.

Some other factors to consider include:

Does the location of the facility allow for frequent visits by friends and family members?

Does the facilities' environment foster the participation in social or religious activities?

Hospital discharge planners can be a wealth of vital information. They can coordinate resource options to meet an individual's discharge needs.