Nursing Homes

A nursing home, convalescent home, Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU), care home, or rest home gives a type of care for residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. Residents include the elderly and younger adults with physical or mental disabilities. Residents in a skilled nursing facility may also receive physical, occupational, and other rehabilitative therapies following an accident or illness. Residents may have certain legal rights depending on the location of the facility.

In the United States, a Skilled Nursing Facility is a nursing home certified to take part in, and be reimbursed by Medicare. Medicare is the federal program mainly for the aged who contributed to Social Security and Medicare while they were in work. A Nursing Facility is a nursing home certified to participate in, and be reimbursed by Medicaid. Medicaid is the federal program implemented with each State to provide health care and related services to those who are poor. Each State defines poverty and; therefore, Medicaid eligibility. Those eligible for Medicaid may be aged, disabled or children (e.g. Children's Health Insurance Programs - CHIPs and Maternal-Child wellness and food programs).

In the United States, each State "licenses" its nursing homes, making them subject to the State's laws and regulations. Nursing homes may choose to participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid. If they pass a survey, they are certified and are also subject to federal laws and regulations. All or part of a nursing home may take part in Medicare and/or Medicaid.

In the United States, nursing homes which participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid are required to have licensed practical nurses on duty 24 hours a day. For at least 8 hours per day, 7 days per week, there must be a registered nurse on duty. Nursing homes are managed by a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Unlike U.S. nursing there are no standardized training and licensing requirements for administrators, though most states require a Federal License, and many states such as California have their own licensure for administrators. There has been a steady decline in nursing homes since early 2002 to present day.

There are states that have other levels of care offered to elderly and other adults who need assistance and are able to live in the community. For instance, Connecticut has Residential Care Homes that are licensed by the State Department of Public Health. These homes provide 24-hour supervision and typically offer a more homely environment. Many are actually large homes that have been converted to dwellings that offer a residential community that promotes an independent lifestyle and fosters fellowship with others who need some form of assistance to live in the area.

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