Presenting a more formalized, medically-based level of care, Skilled caregivers provide a similar level of care, but with a higher level of expertise, to Custodial caregivers. Skilled care services refer to those performed by licensed medical professionals, such as Registered Nurses (RNs). Most RNs provide health care services with physicians and other health care practitioners. They can also become advanced practice nurses. As such, they often work independently as primary practitioners or in collaboration with physicians.
The Registered Nurses who provide this Skilled Care are often called clinical nurse specialists. They may provide direct patient care and can give expert consultations. In most States, they can even prescribe medications. Clinical nurse specialists mainly work in medically underserved areas.
However, skilled care providers do sometimes help with daily living activities. This very often is part of the patient’s treatment plan. Sometimes custodial caregivers work with skilled caregivers, but not in all instances. Just as custodial caregivers sometimes perform tasks usually associated with skilled care providers, like taking blood pressure and giving medication, skilled care providers sometimes perform custodial care tasks.
Skilled Care Provider Duties and Tasks May Include:
Treating and educating patients
Providing advice and support to family members
Recording medical histories and symptoms
Helping to perform diagnostic tests and analyze results
Operating medical machinery
Administering treatment and medications
Helping with follow-up and rehabilitation
Teaching patients to manage the illness or injury, including post-treatment, diet , medication and exercise programs
Providing grief counseling to family members.
You can rely on Medicare to cover this type of care only if you’re going to recover from your condition. Even then, you have limited choice in skilled care providers. If you have LTC insurance, you have options, even when recovery isn’t possible. Isn’t that, after all, the time you need it most?
Long-Term-Care.org is not a long term care insurance broker or carrier, and we cannot issue insurance policies. We are not associated with the companies profiled on Long-Term-Care.org and we make no representation, express or implied, that you will receive a quote from a specific company profiled herein. This site provides free information on insurance providers and coverage options. Products and policies may not be available in all states, and product and policy information is subject to change without notice. Please direct all insurance questions to your insurance company or broker.
