SNF & LTAC
When someone you love leaves the special hospital care but can't go straight home, there are other places they can go. One choice is a skilled nursing facility, or SNF. In a SNF, doctors and nurses keep a close eye on the person, and they still get therapy like physical and occupational therapy. This is usually a temporary place, just until the person with the spinal cord injury is ready to go back home.
A SNF is not the same as what people usually call a "nursing home." A SNF has lots of trained nurses and medical helpers. A nursing home is usually a place where people live for a longer time, and they get help all day and night. SNFs focus on getting better and medical care, while nursing homes focus on keeping people safe and helping them with daily needs for a longer time.
Another choice for care is a long-term acute care facility (LTAC) that offers special care for people who are still in the acute stage of recovery. People in an LTAC don't need the high-intensity help of an ICU, but they are still too sick or not stable enough to go to a less acute place. For example, a person with a spinal cord injury might need special care for a wound, or help with breathing,which are bigger needs than what a regular rehab center or a skilled nursing facility usually offers. In these cases, an LTAC can help. Most people stay in an LTAC for about 10 to 40 days, and a physician or nurse practitioner checks on them every day.
Are the Staff a Good Match for Your Needs?
To assess whether the staff and care expertise is a good match, ask the following questions:
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Do they take care of many people who have SCI? A good facility should be able to provide you with data that shows they give good quality care for SCI.
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Do they have a pathway, or protocol, for taking care of people with SCI?
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Do staff work for the facility or are they contracted from another facility?
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Do they have physical therapists who work at the facility?
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Do they have occupational therapists who work at the facility?
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Will you see the same one or two therapists most days?
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Do they provide therapy every day, including Saturday and Sunday?
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How long do the therapy sessions last?
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If your provider does not visit the facility, will there be a provider in charge of your care?
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Will staff take the time to train your family or caregivers about care you will need at home?
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Will your health insurance cover all of your expenses? If not, what will and will not be covered?
Visiting a SNF and talking with leadership and staff, especially therapists, is important to selecting a SNF. Use this resource to compare facilities.
Length of Stay - How is it Determined?
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SCI Discharge Checklist
Going home from the inpatient rehabilitation center is exciting, but it can also feel like a lot. To make sure your return is safe and easy, it helps to be ready for the changes ahead. Get Up Stand Up to Cure Paralysis has a checklist that lists the important things that people with SCI and their caregivers should know and do before leaving the rehabilitation center.