RESOURCES

The hospital physician will write a discharge order for transfer to our facility.  The patient’s hospital case manager will contact our admissions office and transportation arrangements will be made.  The mode of transportation will depend on the patient’s medical condition.  

Bring clothing items a resident can easily move in or wear while care is being provided; they should wear items that they are comfortable in.  We suggest packing night gowns or pajamas, underwear, socks, pants, shorts or sweatpants, shirts or t-shirts, tennis shoes or rubber soled shoes, slippers and sweaters or sweatshirts.  Residents are dressed every morning and clothing changed as often as necessary.  Because closet space is limited, we recommend that you rotate the clothing according to the change in seasons.

The facility provides basic items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, bedding, towels, washcloths, and gowns.  You may also bring specific brands a resident prefers so they feel as comfortable as possible.  Residents often bring photographs of family, motivational items, and cellphones.  Speak with the facility staff about bringing furniture items to ensure they comply with Life Safety Fire Codes.

We provide three nutritionally balanced meals each day and also offer alternate menu choices.  Snacks are available 24 hours a day.  We are able to accommodate all special dietary requirements.  Menus are available and residents are encouraged to eat in our dining room.  Meals are served at tables to create a more home-like experience.  If you or members of your family would like to dine with the resident, you may do so at a cost of $3.00.  Meal tickets may be purchased from the Business Office or Dietary department.

Rooms are cleaned on a daily basis and more often if needed.  The facility provides bedding and linens.  Personal laundry service is also available at no cost.  

Our skilled nursing facility offers both private and semi-private rooms. We have a limited amount of private rooms and there is an additional cost.  Please note that in the semi-private you will have a roommate who may provide some peer support. 

Beauty and Barber services, Complimentary WIFI and Cable TV.  The facility also offers a designated outside smoking area.

Our facility encourages family and friends to visit with residents and to actively participate in their transition from the hospital to the nursing facility or to their transition home.  Visiting hours are generally between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm.  It is recommended that visits be arranged to fit into the resident’s daily pattern.  Supervised children and pets are welcomed.  Please note that for the safety of our residents and staff the front doors are locked 24/7.  Please ring the bell at the front door and a staff member will buzz you in after hours and on weekends. 

Residents may occasionally want to leave the facility for a family gathering or holiday celebration.  Please speak with the facility social worker about planning a leave of absence. Certain restrictions may apply based on the resident’s medical condition at the time, who is paying for their care, and physician’s order/recommendations for the leave of absence.

While at the facility you can continue to bank as you always have.  You also have the option to open a Trust Account in the resident’s name.  Monies will be deposited into the Trust Account and the resident will have access to those funds 7 days per week.  

The beautician is available on Wednesday.  A schedule and price list is provided on admission.  Payment may be made directly to the beautician or the monies can be debited from the Trust Account by the Business Office and paid to the beautician.

Pet visits are allowed during regular business hours provided they have all vaccination records up to date and are kept on a leash.  A copy of your pet records will be requested.  Please do not bring pets into the main dining area or the hallways during meal tray delivery to rooms.  Pets may not stay overnight.

All residents have access to physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy.  On admission, residents requiring skilled nursing care receive an evaluation to determine the amount of therapy they need, including the amount they can tolerate. For our long-term care residents, if a change in condition is noted then a resident can be screened. Based on screening results and their Medicare/insurance plan, they may be approved to receive therapy.

Each resident is different, depending on how they progress in therapy and their complete medical condition and history.  Short-term residents average 2 weeks to 6 weeks in skilled care.  Other factors that may affect the length of therapy treatment may be insurance certification or resident participation and tolerance.  Your insurance plan will require that you show a certain level of progress toward set goals.

Each resident is different, depending on how they progress in therapy and their complete medical condition and history.  Short-term residents average 2 weeks to 6 weeks in skilled care.  Other factors that may affect the length of therapy treatment may be insurance certification or resident participation and tolerance.  Your insurance plan will require that you show a certain level of progress toward set goals.

Long-term care offers a wide range of specialized services for individuals with varying health conditions, delivered by skilled professionals.  Short-term care consists of skilled nursing care and may include treatment for strokes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, or other serious medical conditions.  Short-term rehabilitation care is often provided for an illness, injury, or surgery to help residents return to an active, independent lifestyle.

Long-term care is generally for individuals who are unable to care for themselves with minimal assistance.  Care and services are designed to help meet residents’ physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs.  Residents typically require assistance with activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing, eating, and medication management.

Yes, a resident can be admitted from home.  We recommend an appointment with the primary care physician.  The physician completes paperwork for the nursing facility to review including current history and physical and a medication list.  For Medicare and certain insurances to pay for skilled care, the patient must have a skilled or medical need and a 3-day qualifying hospital stay.

Our facility receives referrals from physicians, hospitals, acute rehab, other long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, hospice, adult day care, public agencies and eldercare attorneys.  Once a referral is received, it is required that we have a physician order to admit.

Residents are assigned an attending physician on admission.  Our facility has a Medical Director and other physicians who are assigned to oversee the care residents receive during their stay.  

Contact the Admissions Office for a complete list of physicians.  Please let us know your physician’s name and we will contact them to see if they will follow the resident at our skilled nursing facility. 

Individuals in Skilled Nursing Facilities must be seen by a physician within a few days of admission and again every 30 days, for the first 90 days.  After the 90 days, the individual must be seen by a physician at least every 60 days.  More frequent visits may be needed based on the individual’s medical needs.  The physicians are not employed by the facility but have privileges to see patients here.  Each individual or their family may select the physician of choice from a list of physicians who provide services at the facility, or the facility will assign the next available physician.

Any resident, resident representative, family member, advocate, or staff may file a suggestion, comment, or grievance.  You may obtain a Grievance/Complaint Report form from the Social Service office.  Please direct all grievances to Social Services.

Skilled Nursing Facilities are surveyed at least yearly by representatives of the Department of Health to determine if the facility is providing quality care and meets the requirements to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments.  The survey is an unannounced visit and may last several days.  The facility receives a report of any area that requires improvement and is provided with a period of time to make corrections.

The Five-Star Quality Rating System was created to help individuals, their families, and caregivers compare skilled nursing facilities.  The rating system is based on data from three areas: Health Inspections, Staffing, and Quality Measures.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide a star rating for each of these three areas.  Then, these three ratings are combined to calculate an overall average rating of 1 to 5 Star.

Many options are available to pay for skilled nursing home care including Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicaid, Insurance, Hospice, Long Term Care Polices, and Private Pay.  Our facility participates with many insurance plans.  Some of these plans have a co-pay or co-insurance amount the resident is responsible to pay.  Patients must have a skilled or medical need in order for Medicare and insurance to pay for services in a skilled nursing facility.  The Business Office can conduct a financial verification and review with you what coverage is in place for the resident and what out of pocket cost may exist. 

Medicare offers a 100-day benefit.  For Medicare to pay for a skilled nursing stay, the resident must have a three-day qualifying hospital stay.  Traditional Medicare pays 100% on days 1 to 20 and days 21 to 100 have a $185.50.00 co-pay amount the resident is responsible to pay.  If you have a co-insurance, then the $185.5.00 may be paid by your plan.  The $185.50.00 may also be paid by Medicaid.  This co-insurance amount is set by Medicare and changes each January.  Residents must have a skilled or medical need for Medicare to pay for services.

Medicare is a federally funded program for individuals who are over the age of 65 or who are disabled.  Medicare A, which covers inpatient care, pays for skilled care for a maximum of 100 days per illness. To be covered, individuals must receive services from a Certified Skilled Nursing Facility following a qualifying hospital stay of three (3) days.

Medicaid is a state funded program for adults who need medical care and have limited income or funds to pay for it.  Individuals must qualify medically and financially for Medicaid to pay for Nursing Facility services.  Medicaid will pay only for nursing care provided in a facility certified by the government to service Medicaid recipients.  There is no limit to the amount of time that Medicaid will pay for nursing care, however, there is an annual review to make sure the individual continues to be eligible for the program.

HMO and Managed Care Plans are private insurance companies.  Each insurance plan has individual definitions and coverage terms.  The insurance plan decides what is covered and how long it will be covered.  They generally follow the same skilled care requirements as Medicare.  Pre-authorization or approval prior to admission is needed in order for the insurance plan to cover the cost of Skilled Nursing Facility services.  The insurance company will inform the individual when services are no longer covered.  HMO’s do not pay for long-term care.

Co-pay charges are the amount that the individual must pay privately toward the cost of care.  Medicare and most HMO’s have a co-pay.  Medicare Co-pay begins on the 21st day of care.  If you are a long-term resident and are on a Medicaid plan the co-pay may be covered by Medicaid.

If the facility accepts Medicaid, individuals who run out of money or no longer have insurance coverage may apply for benefits under the Medicaid program to remain at the skilled nursing facility.  A representative from the Medicaid program will review the application and decide if the individual qualifies medically and financially for Medicaid.  If the application is denied, the individual is responsible for the skilled nursing facility costs.  If the application is approved Medicaid covers the costs from the date of application.

The application can be made through Medicaid at the office designated for your facility.   The program is designed specifically for people with a low income and total assets below $2,000.00 (cash, savings, CD’s, etc.).  A sheet of instructions for the application is available in the admissions office.  You may also contact the Area Agency on Aging.

If the costs are being paid by Medicare, insurance, or private funds, the individual continues to receive Social Security or pension income and can use the funds the same as he/she always has.  If the cost is being paid under Medicaid, the individual is usually required to help pay for the care using their Social Security and pension income.  There is an exception if the individual has a spouse living in the community; the Department of Public Welfare decides if the spouse in the community needs to keep some or all funds to maintain a home.  

Once you have met your set goals and your physician deems you ready for discharge our goal is to arrange for a safe discharge home where you can resume your activities of daily living.

The facility social worker will discuss discharge plans during the stay and will help individuals prepare for home, transfer to a lower level of care (such as assisted living) or transition to long-term care.

With an order from your physician, social services will work with your health plan and arrange  for services such as nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services in your home.

These services may be covered by your health plan (Medicare, Medicare Replacement Plan, Other Insurance Plans) and you may also pay privately for these services should they not be covered under your plan.