To the editor:

 

I read an article in the Tryon Daily Bulletin on Tuesday, July 28, 2105 titled “Choosing the right nursing home.” This was a well-written article by a very educated and helpful senior advisor, Ron Kauffman.

 

My concern is the use of the words “nursing home.” The term nursing home is most often associated with those who can no longer function at all without skilled care by nurses and physicians 24 hours per day. Those are the nursing homes of old. Today, licensed communities are known as assisted living, memory care and skilled care. Also, skilled rehabilitation is a new term.

 

Assisted living maintains a 24/7 staff of med techs, CNA’s and resident assistants all managed by a licensed RN and inspected by the state Department of Health and Human Services on a regular basis. Assisted living provides medication management, activities, transportation and dietician approved and planned meals based on the resident’s doctor’s order.

 

It also provides as much or as little personal care as the resident might need. This would be bathing, dressing, toileting, incontinence care, etc. The goal is to keep the resident as independent as possible, maintain dignity, and allow them to make decisions as they are able.  Memory care operates in much the same way, with more staff as the needs are greater and a secure environment in which to live.

 

Skilled nursing and skilled nursing rehabilitation are for more advanced illnesses or loss of mobility, the ability to eat with out assistance, etc. The rehabilitation section of these communities provides intense rehab after surgeries or any debilitating illness that can be recovered from by the use of physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

 

Again, Mr. Kauffman’s article was well written with encouraging words to make a plan, do your homework, and ways to research.  It is important to know all the options as aging becomes a reality.

 

Susan S. Blair

Executive Director

LaurelHurst/LaurelWoods Retirment Community

Columbus, N.C.