How Long-Term Care Facilities Stand Apart From Traditional Nursing Homes
Our parents and grandparents want to remain at home and age in place as long as possible. Yet, someone turning 65 today has nearly a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care services at some point.
The reality is, discussing long-term care with your loved ones is important. But what are the differences between nursing homes and long-term care facilities? And how can we ensure our loved ones maintain the quality of life they are used to at home?
What Are Long-Term Care Facilities?
Long-term care facilities go above and beyond nursing home care to provide comprehensive health and personal care needs for their residents.
Nursing homes, on the other hand, typically consist of a hospital-like setting with fewer social and ancillary programs. Some of the drawbacks of nursing home environments may be:
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Lack of privacy with shared rooms and nursing stations on every floor.
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Less freedom regarding daily activities and schedules.
While both facilities offer care for those who can no longer live independently at home, long-term care facilities have many advantages over traditional nursing homes.
Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of Sitrin’s long-term care facility.
Physical Environment
After extensive research into the negative effects nursing homes may have on the quality of life and mental health of seniors, Sitrin designed its long-term care model to resemble what seniors missed most when moving to long-term care: home.
Our nine Cape Cod-style homes have 110 private rooms with private bathrooms, a large kitchen, dining area, lounge area with a fireplace, recreation room, and even a small fitness room. Home-cooked meals are prepared by chefs who are aware of any dietary restrictions or needs of each resident.
Sitrin’s long-term care residents are also surrounded by nature, with grounds that feature gardens and beautifully landscaped yards.
This home-like environment eases the transition from independent living to long-term care and offers an enhanced quality of life, boosts self-esteem, and encourages social interaction.
Caregiving
Long-term care facilities may have nurses who specialize in specific areas of care, such as geriatrics or medical rehabilitation.
At Sitrin, residents have access to a community of care with on-campus services, and in many cases, they can receive therapy services in their long-term care home. This is a significant advantage—to be able to receive the care and services they need in the comfort of their long-term care setting.
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If a resident requires hospitalization, upon returning to Sitrin, he or she will receive any necessary medical rehabilitation or therapy services in their long-term care residence. In many instances, our broad range of therapy services minimizes the need for hospital care altogether, resulting in fewer transfers outside of Sitrin.
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Occupational therapists or physical therapists can come to the residents' homes on campus, so they don’t have to leave for therapy appointments! This means less disruption of daily life, a higher degree of comfort for our residents, and peace of mind for family members. Each residence also has an activity room furnished with strengthening and conditioning equipment.
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Conveniently located in the Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center, Sitrin's Dental Clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including digital X-ray equipment designed to minimize radiation exposure, along with computerized dental charting and scheduling.
With these amenities all in one place, our unique long-term care homes are a dramatic departure from traditional nursing home models.
Social Environment
As many as 30 percent of nursing home residents suffer from depression. Lack of social interaction, or limited time to visit with family members, certainly can contribute to depression in seniors.
The staff at Sitrin takes care of placing new residents in homes where they have similar needs as the other residents. Sitrin’s long-term care environment encourages socialization among residents and family involvement in many ways.
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Community Center: This centrally located venue provides the perfect setting for a variety of activities, including musical performances, holiday meals or events, summer barbeques, and of course, BINGO!
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Family involvement: Family members are welcome to visit and are able to reserve the Community Center for birthdays or other special occasions.
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The outdoors: Residents are able to enjoy the outdoors with staff or family members, visit with friends in other houses, or interact with other residents in the lounge area/recreation room of their home. Our heated walkways make it easy for residents and families to traverse the campus during the harsh winter months as well.
Because of our small home sizes, with 12 to 14 residents per house, there are more opportunities for one-on-one socialization. Being able to transition from home to a home-like environment with a small group of residents provides a smoother transition.
The main advantage of long-term care models like Sitrins’ is the ability to provide continuity of care. Residents are able to receive medical services and treatments on campus instead of relying on family or friends to transport them to appointments. At Sitrin, residents enjoy a community campus setting with breathtaking views where they can receive the care they need, all in one place.
For more information about Sitrin’s long-term care facility, contact Patrick Stedman, Director of Admissions and Social Services, by calling 315-737-2405 or emailing pstedman@sitrin.com.
