Nursing Homes
The terminology "Nursing Home" is known by more people than any other - and is often remembered as "the place where grandma or grandpa stayed until the end". In many small communities - Nursing Homes are still the only choice available for care.

Today's nursing homes are also known as Care Centers which offer the highest level of continuous long-term care. Often times individuals are released from a Hospital setting into a Skilled Nursing Facility, also known as Rehabilitation/Transitional Care Units, where skilled care is provided with emphasis on rehabilitation. Many individuals are able to return back to their own home, perhaps initially with some In-Home care, or into an Assisted Living facility or Adult Family Home. Nursing Homes have come a long way.

Knowing how a particular nursing home has faired in a recent state or federal survey can provide you valuable information as you either select a nursing home, or as you perhaps confront issues of care for a relative or loved in already in a nursing home. The website found by clicking on the icon below provides you a view of perhaps issues that either have been addressed of need to be addressed by the facilities in your state or area. By clicking on the Medicare.gov icon, you can discover how all of the 39 nursing homes in Wyoming are doing according to their latest surveys.

Surveys are not announced to the facility. States conduct standard surveys and complete them on consecutive workdays, whenever possible. They may be conducted at any time including weekends, 24 hours a day. When standard surveys begin at times beyond the business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or begin on a Saturday or Sunday, the entrance conference and initial tour should is modified in recognition of the residents' activity (e.g., sleep, religious services) and types and numbers of staff available upon entry.

The State has the responsibility for certifying a skilled nursing facility's or nursing facility's compliance or noncompliance, except in the case of State-operated facilities. However, the State's certification for a skilled nursing facility is subject to CMS' approval. "Certification of compliance" means that a facility's compliance with Federal participation requirements is ascertained. In addition to certifying a facility's compliance or noncompliance, the State recommends appropriate enforcement actions to the State Medicaid agency for Medicaid and to the regional office for Medicare.