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room decorated like a restaurant as well as a variety of activities. Most assisted living
facilities are not licensed to administer IVs, requiring patients who need IVs to
temporarily relocate to a skilled nursing facility.

BOARD & CARE

Board and care is similar to assisted living in terms of care, although some group
homes work with lower functionality seniors than those found in assisted living. A
woman recently had placed her mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, in a
board and care facility, sometimes known as a ‘group home.’ This is usually a single-
family dwelling which has been converted into a residence for elderly and disabled
residents. The monthly rent paid commonly includes room, three meals a day, laundry
services, and some transportation – in addition to a 24-hour staff person. While basic
medical care can be attended to, residents who have serious medical conditions will
be expected to move into a more suitable facility.

SKILLED NURSING

Skilled nursing (also called SNF or “sniff”) is the first level of care that is licensed to
administer medical treatment with nurses. In fact, there are strict regulations that
require nurses to be on duty and to regulate the nurse-patient ratio.

As the name denotes, such a facility offers extensive nursing services for the
residents. Admission must be initiated by a person’s physician, who recommends
that a patient enter either ‘rehab care’ or a ‘special care’ facility.
• • Rehab Care: Located in hospitals or nursing homes, rehab care programs are
sometimes called “Level 1” or transitional care. They provide intensive medical
care for patients who are expected to regain functional capacity and return
home in a relatively short time.
• Special care: There are two types of special care facilities: those involved with
unique medical issues (sometimes called “Level 2” care), and those which
manage behavioral problems that may arise from dementia.

Many patients are admitted to skilled nursing to address an acute condition such as
rehabilitating a broken hip, or treating an infection with IV antibiotics. Many skilled
nursing facilities have a portion of their residents who are long-term care patients.
These are patients who require the treatment capabilities of a SNF, yet their
condition requires that level of care permanently. Long-term care includes nursing
supervision, but it is custodial in nature – focused on maintenance as opposed to
curative care. Here the condition is not expected to improve, and the nursing
activities are focused on keeping the person healthy and safe.

Information adapted from the NationalInstituteonAging, partoftheNationalInstitutesofHealth www.nia.nih.gov
Reviewed by Alzheimer’s LA January 2016 | NIH July 2012

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