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What is skilled nursing?

Skilled nursing is a type of comprehensive medical care provided by highly qualified care professionals. 

Seniors might seek out skilled nursing services long-term, as a result of a chronic or debilitating condition, or on a short-term basis as they recover from an injury, surgery or stroke.

In skilled nursing, patients receive treatment and care according to a personalized care plan, which may include:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living, or ADLs
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapy
  • Medication administration and monitoring
  • Wound management and skin care
  • Hydration and nutrition monitoring
A nurse guides a woman with a weight in her hand.

A patient’s doctor or treatment team will be the best judge of when it’s time to transition to skilled nursing care, whether short- or long-term.

This type of care is available in the care centers of Life Plan Communities or CCRCs, in-home, in some hospitals, and in dedicated skilled nursing facilities, also known as nursing homes.

No matter the setting, the goal of skilled nursing is the same: provide a safe, nurturing environment where patients can regain or maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible — whether they’re eventually discharged or remain in the facility longer-term.

How is skilled nursing different?


It’s common to equate skilled nursing with inpatient rehabilitation facilities and assisted living communities, but each has differentiating features.

Let’s take a look at some of the major differences among these often similar, but not identical, types of care.


Treatment

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

Assisted Living

24-hour care and supervision

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

  

Assisted Living

  
Specialized medical care

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

  

Assisted Living

  
Help with ADLs

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

Assisted Living

Physical, speech and occupational therapy

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

Assisted Living

Lifestyle and social activities

Skilled Nursing

  

Rehab

  

Assisted Living

Long-term residential options

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

  

Assisted Living

Short-term recovery or rehabilitation options

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

Assisted Living

  
Hours of treatment per day

Skilled Nursing

1–2 hours

Rehab

3+ hours

Assisted Living

Average length of treatment/stay

Skilled Nursing

24–60 days

Rehab

10–35 days

Assisted Living

Skilled Nursing

Rehab

Assisted Living

How much does skilled nursing cost?


According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the national median cost of a private room in a skilled nursing facility is just over $9,000 per month.

Of course, the cost of care varies based on a number of factors, such as geographic location, the facility’s ratings, and staff qualifications and tenure.

Medicare and skilled nursing

If you have Medicare Part A, Medicare may pay for part or all of your stay in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility. Generally, to be eligible for coverage, you must be admitted to the facility within 30 days of a hospital stay of at least three days. 

A woman lifts free weights.

Medicare’s skilled nursing coverage is fairly comprehensive, typically covering: 

  • A semi-private residence
  • Nursing care
  • Speech, physical and occupational therapy
  • Medical supplies
  • Social services
  • Medications
  • Equipment
  • Miscellaneous services necessary to a patient’s health

Within the first 20 days of skilled nursing treatment, patients pay no coinsurance. After that, you may pay up to $194.50 per day in coinsurance. And at the 100-day mark, Medicare provides no coverage for skilled nursing.

Paying for skilled nursing

If you don’t have Medicare or have exhausted your coverage benefits, you’ll be responsible for paying your remaining costs out-of-pocket or with private long-term care insurance or Medicaid (if you’re eligible). 

No matter what type of insurance you have, it’s always worth double checking your coverage with your insurance provider. 

Every facility’s costs are different, so be sure to speak with the sales or intake team at any facilities you’re considering about what to expect financially.

Skilled nursing in CCRCs — and at Vi


If you’re looking for somewhere to keep enjoying everything you love about retirement and have a plan in place for future care (including skilled nursing), should you need it, a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC may be a great option for you.

For residents in a Life Plan Community or Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), skilled nursing is part of the continuum of care. Depending on the contract type, residents seamlessly transition from independent living into a care center that offers assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care , often with little to no increase in monthly costs.

All of Vi’s 10 communities are CCRCs and offer skilled nursing in our care centers, where residents receive specialized, whole-person care from qualified, compassionate caregivers. Our staff members get to know each resident throughout the years they’re living at Vi, which allows us to provide the most attentive and personalized care possible.

Frequently asked questions about skilled nursing


What is a skilled nursing facility?

A skilled nursing facility, or SNF, provides transitional care to seniors who require the services of a care team with specialized skills.

Patients in a skilled nursing facility may receive:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living, or ADLs
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapy
  • Medication administration and monitoring
  • Wound management and skin care
  • Hydration and nutrition monitoring
  • Coordination for hospice care

     

What qualifies a patient for skilled nursing care?
If an individual requires skilled care daily for at least five days per week, they may qualify for skilled nursing care. Medicare often covers such services for a limited time if the individual has had a hospital stay of three days or more in the last 30 days.
What is the difference between skilled nursing and assisted living?
The key difference between skilled nursing and assisted living is that assisted living is for seniors who do not have advanced healthcare needs that necessitate frequent monitoring and skilled healthcare services. Assisted living residents may only need help with completing activities of daily living (ADLs):
  • Walking
  • Transferring, including from bed to a chair, or into a wheelchair or walker
  • Feeding
  • Dressing 
  • Grooming
  • Bathing
  • Toileting
What is the difference between skilled nursing and rehab?

Inpatient rehab facilities offer more intensive rehabilitative care than skilled nursing facilities.

Rehab centers may provide three or more hours of therapeutic services to each patient each day — including occupational, speech and physical therapy — to help patients to recover.

Rehab stays tend to be shorter in duration than skilled nursing stays.