Resources for Senior Care
These resources may provide the information or contacts families and older adults need to make decisions about nursing care.
Understanding Levels of Senior Care
Independent Living
Independent living is simply any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors, generally those aged 55 and over. Housing varies widely, from apartment-style living to freestanding homes. In general, the housing is friendlier to older adults, often being more compact, with easier navigation and assistance in yard maintenance if there is a yard. The terms retirement communities, retirement homes, senior housing, and senior apartments may also be used when talking about independent living.
The Kane Glen Hazel and Kane Ross campuses offer independent living.
Assisted Living/Personal Care
Assisted living is a residential option for seniors who want or need help with some of the activities of daily living - things like cooking meals, getting to the bathroom in the middle of the night, keeping house, and traveling to appointments. An assisted living facility may be a good choice if you need more personal care services than you can get at home or an independent living retirement community, but you don't need the round-the-clock medical care and supervision of a nursing home.
Short-Term Skilled Care
Skilled care is healthcare given when you need skilled nursing or rehabilitation staff to treat, observe, and evaluate your care. To be eligible for skilled care benefits your physician must order a specific therapy to be provided by licensed staff. Examples of skilled care include, but are not limited to:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- IV Therapy (pain management, antibiotics and other medication therapy)
- Orthopedic injuries, joint replacement and amputation therapy
- Stroke and cardiac problems
Care that can be given by non-professional staff isn't considered skilled care. People don't usually stay in a skilled nursing facility until they are completely recovered. Insurance covers certain skilled care services that are needed daily on a short-term basis (up to 100 days). Skilled care helps patients recover, function more independently, and/or learn to take care of health needs. Short-term residents receive skilled nursing care to help improve or maintain a current health condition and prevent it from getting worse.
The Kane Community Living Centers provides short-term skilled care at all four centers. The Kane Scott Center features a Transitional Care Unit that offers high-intensity physical, occupational, and speech therapies. This 26-bed unit has all private rooms and bathrooms.
Long-Term Care
When a person requires someone else to help them with physical or emotional needs over an extended period of time, this is long-term care. This help may be required for many of the activities or needs that healthy, active people take for granted. Nursing homes provide care to people who can't be cared for at home or in the community. These facilities provide a wide range of personal care and health services. For most people, this care generally is to assist with support services such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. The need for long-term care help might be due to a terminal condition, disability, illness, injury, or the infirmity of old age.
The Kane Community Living Centers provide long-term care at all four centers. Medical Assistance is the largest payor source for long-term care and Kane accepts this form of payment at all four centers. The caring professionals at Kane strive to maintain a home like environment where residents can reach their highest level of independence.