Resources

Below are commonly asked questions about senior care communities. There also are links to other web sites providing information about senior living. Please feel free to contact us. Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm. with your questions and we will do our best to answer them or refer you to others.

Q. What is the difference between skilled care and intermediate care in a nursing home?
A. Skilled care is covered by Medicare if the qualifying criteria are met. The criteria includes a three day hospital stay and physician's statement that daily skilled care services are needed. Skilled services include physical, occupational and speech therapies, pain management, and IV medications. Intermediate care is less complex than skilled care and encompasses the need for general assistance with activities of daily living and medication administration.  This is most commonly referred to as Assisted Living.

 

Q. When do I apply for Medicaid?

A. To qualify for Medicaid, a single individual may have no more than $1,500.00 in cash assets. The local Department of Human Resources is qualified to conduct an assessment of your resources to determine your eligibility for Medicaid benefits.

 

Q. What is assisted living?

A. Assisted living helps residents with many aspects of daily living such as with medications, meal preparation, bathing, dressing and other personal activities.

 

Q. When is assisted living appropriate?

A. Assisted living is appropriate when an individual is having difficulty managing tasks such as: preparing balanced meals, maintaining his/her household, or remembering to take medications on time. An assisted living lifestyle allows individuals' independence and personalized support services.

 

Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?

Yes, Medicaid pays for assisted living at this time. Some long term care insurance policies cover assisted living services; however, in most cases, they are handled on a private pay basis.