If you’re about to leave the hospital after an illness, surgery, or injury, you’ve almost certainly come across the term “Skilled Nursing Facility” while considering post-hospital recovery. What is a skilled nursing facility? What role do they play in post acute care in Denver and Denver County?  

Understanding these facilities could play an important role in determining the quality of your recovery after you’ve left the hospital and before you return home, and quality of recovery is our number one goal at Westwood Post Acute.  

Defining a Skilled Nursing Facility

A skilled nursing facility is a licensed healthcare setting that provides 24-hour medical care and rehabilitation services for patients who no longer need hospital-level treatment but still require professional medical support.  

According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, skilled care includes services that must be performed or supervised by trained medical professionals like registered nurses and licensed therapists.   

In simple terms, a skilled nursing facility acts as a bridge between the hospital and the home.  

What Services Are Provided in a Skilled Nursing Facility?

Patients in a skilled nursing facility receive a combination of medical care and rehabilitation services tailored to their recovery goals.

These often include:  

• Skilled nursing care (wound care, IV therapy, medication management)  
• Physical, speech, and occupational therapy  
• Post-surgical recovery support  
• Chronic condition management  
• Nutritional support and daily living assistance  

These services are delivered by a team of licensed professionals and are designed for individuals who need more than basic assistance, but not full hospitalization.  

Who Needs a Skilled Nursing Facility?

Skilled nursing care is typically recommended for individuals who are:  

• Recovering from surgery (such as joint replacement)  
• Healing after illness, injury, or stroke  
• Managing complex medical conditions  
• Too weak or medically fragile to safely return home  

Medicare often covers short-term skilled nursing stays when certain criteria are met, such as a qualifying hospital stay and a physician’s order for skilled care. At Westwood Post Acute, we accept private pay, Medicare, Medicaid, and a wide range of PPOs and HMOs to make our services as accessible as possible.  

What’s the Difference Between Skilled Nursing and Nursing Homes  

When researching post-acute care, it can be easy to confuse a skilled nursing facility for a nursing home.

To put it very simply:  

• Skilled Nursing Facility: Focuses on short-term rehabilitation and medical care while recovering from hospitalization (while offering long-term care in specific cases).  
• Nursing Homes: Focuses on long-term, sometimes indefinite, ongoing custodial care, and help with daily activities.  

While some facilities offer both, the key distinction is the level of medical care and rehabilitation provided. Skilled nursing involves clinical treatment that must be administered by licensed professionals.   

Why Skilled Nursing Matters

Recovering from a serious illness or surgery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital. Skilled nursing facilities provide the structured care, therapy, and medical oversight needed to ensure a safe and successful recovery.  

Without this level of care, patients may face higher risks of complications or hospital readmission. Skilled nursing facilities help to avoid those complications by offering both clinical expertise and compassionate support.  

Skilled Nursing Care in Denver, Colorado  

In a growing hub like Denver, skilled nursing facilities play a critical role in the care ecosystem. Hospitals throughout Denver County rely on skilled nursing facilities to help patients continue recovery outside of an acute care setting like a hospital.  

At Westwood Post Acute, patients benefit from:  

• Individualized care plans tailored to recovery goals  
• A multidisciplinary team of nurses and therapists  
• A focus on regaining independence and returning home safely  
• A supportive, healing-focused environment  

Our team of registered nurses and licensed therapists at Westwood Post Acute strives to provide the highest level of skilled nursing care possible, because at the end of the day, our goal is to see the successful recovery of our patients so they can happily return home.