Skilled Nursing Facility
Why You May Need Skilled Nursing
Your care team will talk with you and your doctor to help you decide if you are able to go home after your hospitalization. You may need to go to a skilled nursing facility if:
- You are unable to manage safely at home
- You have health problems that need to be watched carefully
- You need medications that cannot safely be given at home
- You have wounds that need extra care
Finding and Selecting a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
There are several choices here in Los Angeles and in other cities. We will work closely with you to help you find the right place for you.
We will provide you with a list of skilled nursing facilities that may have a room for you. You and your loved ones can learn about the facilities and the types of care they offer. Most of the websites feature virtual tours with videos and pictures. If they can, your loved ones should visit the facilities.
Your care team will begin helping you plan for your discharge early in your hospital stay. You should start looking at your choices as soon as you can. Do not wait until it is time to leave. Planning will help you find the right place for you, where you can get the type of care you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
At a SNF you will have skilled nursing care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The staff will provide:
- Wound care
- Medications and antibiotics
- Tube feedings
- Physical, occupational and speech therapies
- Social and recreational activities
- Rides to doctor appointments
Most people stay 1 to 2 weeks. Your care team at the SNF will decide how long your stay will be, based on:
- Your health
- How well you can move and take care of yourself
- The type of surgery you had
- How well you are healing
Medicare will pay for the first 20 days. If you have private insurance or Medi-Cal, your case management team will tell you what costs your plan will cover and what facilities are contracted with your insurance plan. The staff at the skilled nursing facility also can talk to you about any costs that are not covered by your insurance.