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What is Skilled Care? Beacon Ridge, a Senior Choice Community, Explains Your Options

When faced with senior care decisions, it is important to understand the various options available and the services you can expect from each provider.


Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation at Beacon Ridge, a Senior Choice Community, bridges the gap between hospital and home, as quickly and safely as possible. In fact, the majority of our short-term residents return home or back to their prior level of living in about three weeks or less.



Skilled care typically refers to skilled nursing care and/or rehabilitation services, ordered by your doctor, and provided by licensed health professionals, such as nurses and physical and occupational therapists. Skilled care is provided in a nursing facility setting, which is also referred to as a nursing home or a skilled nursing facility (SNF).


The Medicare program will often pay a portion of a skilled care stay provided in a nursing home setting when the nursing care and therapy services can only be safely and effectively performed by, or under the supervision of professionals or technical personnel. Skilled care providers offer around the clock licensed nurses to evaluate and manage a resident’s individual treatment plan. Most skilled procedures are provided by registered nurses and rehabilitation therapists, with physicians available as needed. A skilled-care stay is usually a client-centered and goal-oriented short-term stay averaging 14 to 21 days. Goals are established with a primary focus of improving physical function while recuperating from an acute illness, injury or surgery. At the conclusion of a skilled stay, individuals are often discharged back to their home or back to their prior level of living in the community where they continue to live independently.


Individuals can also receive long-term care in a nursing facility. Some residents need more day to day assistance than can be provided in their home which necessitates their transition to a longer term nursing home stay. Care and services are typically focused on maintaining functional and/or cognitive capabilities and effective management of future declines. The care focus expands to include permanent housing and social programming in addition to medical care. Long-term nursing home care is generally paid by the consumer through private funds or through the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program.


Our dedicated staff at Beacon Ridge consists of Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants. Most of our staff is assigned to each neighborhood within our caring community. By doing so, skilled nursing staff is able to know each resident as an individual and is able to care for their physical and emotional needs.


Today’s nursing home serves two very different patient populations. We can provide more complex medical care and rehabilitation services for those recovering from surgery or illness to assist with their return to home and community settings. Additionally, we also provide long term support services that offer permanent support for day-to-day needs.


To schedule a visit at Beacon Ridge, a Senior Choice Community, or to learn more about the benefits of our short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, call 724-349-5300.


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