Speech--language pathology services in a skilled nursing facility: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Speech-language pathology services are expanding in skilled nursing facilities and long-term care settings.
• There is a lack of comprehensive information regarding the characteristics of the adult disabled and/or elderly population receiving these services.
• Understanding this demographic is crucial for effective service delivery and professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the characteristics of patients referred for speech-language evaluation in a skilled nursing facility.
• To identify key variables impacting speech-language pathology services for the elderly and disabled adult population.
• To inform professional training needs and role definition for speech-language pathologists in long-term care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical and speech pathology records.
• Inclusion of patients referred for speech-language evaluation over a three-year period.
• Examination of eight key variables relevant to patient characteristics and service provision.

Main Results:

• Identified specific patient characteristics and referral patterns within the skilled nursing facility population.
• Highlighted significant findings related to the needs of elderly and disabled adults requiring speech-language pathology services.
• Provided data to understand the scope of practice and patient profiles in long-term care settings.

Conclusions:

• The findings have significant implications for the professional training of speech-language pathologists.
• There is a clear need to define and clarify the role of speech-language pathologists in long-term care institutions.
• Further research and specialized training are recommended to address the unique needs of this patient population.