Skilled Care
Quick Description
Skilled care is medical care or assistance provided by a registered nurse or professional therapist. Skilled care is usually provided within a licensed facility, such as a nursing home.
Full Description
Skilled care can be delivered in any type of long-term care facility or at home. Most often, skilled care is delivered in a skilled nursing facility (nursing home or rehab facility) with 24/7 services. The term "skilled care" is also interchangeable with "skilled nursing."
Skilled care can involve but is not limited to:
- Administering medications
- Wound care
- Checking & monitoring vitals
- Short-term & extended physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Audiology therapy
- Respiratory therapy
- Nutritionists
- Chemotherapy specialists
- Teaching basic skills to those with cognitive decline or after an accident
Skilled care is administered by skilled medical personnel, such as professional therapists and registered nurses. These professionals usually work in licensed medical or long-term care facilities, but skilled care is also available at home. This makes it the highest level of care available outside of a facility.
Skilled care professionals and skilled nurses don't usually help with activities of daily living or other basic needs. Their primary focus is on the tasks listed above.