Taking fear out of the 'nursing home' question

Choosing a skilled nursing facility or nursing home can be very difficult. It's important to learn about options in advance, according to Forrest Malakoff, Vice President of senior services and long-term care at Mills-Peninsula.

"First, for most people, what we call 'long-term' care isn't a permanent, end-of-life situation," Malakoff said. "Thanks to better medical knowledge and staffing resources, skilled nursing care today focuses on rehabilitating people to go home.

"People also often aren't aware that there are different levels of this kind of care," he said.

Short-term skilled nursing care and rehabilitation following surgery or illness (the most-used option)

Long-term 24-hour care for people who have serious chronic health problems, including dementia
Mills-Peninsula provides short-term rehabilitative skilled nursing care in specialized areas within Peninsula Medical Center and at Mills-Peninsula Extended Care in San Mateo. Patients typically stay about two weeks.

"Because these centers are under the auspices of a major hospital, we are held to higher quality standards, including staffing levels," Malakoff said.

"Treatment objectives and plans are created for each patient.

Registered nurses are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Physical therapy is available every day and a nutritionist visits regularly. Medical directors oversee quality.

"Our hospital connection also gives us access to a range of expertise, from wound care specialists and rehabilitation physicians to a state-of-the-art palliative care program that has a special
focus on pain management."

In general, Malakoff recommends visiting the Medicare web site for help choosing a nursing facility.

The web site is at www.Medicare.gov. Go to the "Medicare Personal Plan Finder."

Mills-Peninsula skilled nursing and extended care services are available to people who have a Mills-Peninsula physician. People with Medicare HMO insurance can get more information by calling Mills-Peninsula Medical Group (MPMG) member services at (650) 240 8000.