 | Diane Frederick
is president, owner and founder of KEYSTONE Support Services. KEYSTONE Support Services is a clearinghouse and consulting business that helps families with everything that is necessary to insure that their loved one is cared for in a facility with an environment that best meets all of their needs. KEYSTONE keeps weekly records of all the local facilities and is able to find placement quickly without compromising quality. Additionally KEYSTONE Support Services specializes in cutting through the red tape involved in the Medicaid and Medicare process, explaining the costs in layman's terms. Diane Frederick can be reached by phone at (316) 688-1821 or by fax, at (316) 688-1841, or by e-mail at KEYSTONELLC2000 @aol.com, or you can write to her at PO Box 20162, Wichita, Kansas 67206. |
Senior Living
2001-05-01 10:25:00
Who can I call?
Question: My wife recently fell and fractured her hip. After she has completed rehab in the hospital I am going to have to find placement for her in a long-term care facility, because I am not able to care for her at home. I don't know where to start. Who do I call?
Answer: There are a few preliminary questions that need to be asked and answered to best help in this very difficult situation, for example: financial questions designed to determine if paying privately is the best avenue for your particular situation. Depending on what your assets are, you may qualify for Medicaid, which is the state insurance plan that covers the cost of nursing home care.Your wife may also qualify for up to 100 days of skilled care paid for (in part) by Medicare Part A. The criteria for meeting Medicare Part A requirements is often confusing and not all nursing facilities provide care under the Medicare Part A benefit.You may also have a Long-Term Care Insurance policy already in place. Depending on how your policy reads, some or all of the costs of a nursing facility may be covered.There are other issues, besides the price and payment method that are very important when deciding what will best meet the needs of your wife and yourself. • Physical and occupational therapy programs and whether or not there are some that are available in a location of your choice• Activity programs that are designed for your wife's special needs• State inspection issues, with specific regard to a facility that you may be looking at • Employee turn over rates (a high degree of turnover, particularly in upper management may signal a facility- wide or corporate problem)• Prescription medication issuesIt is also very important that you obtain the legal right to make health care decisions on behalf of your wife, should the need arise. A ‘Durable Power of Attorney’ guarantees your right under the law to make decisions for your wife if she is ever unable to do so herself. Remember that an aesthetically beautiful nursing facility does not always guarantee quality care, just as a facility that is a little worn around the edges does not always signify poor care. Look around as you tour the building. Are the residents clean? Do they smile and seem happy? Does the staff smile and interact well with each other and with the residents? Is the building clean and does it smell good for the most part? These are all signs of a quality facility, run by quality people. Most important of all, be proactive in your wife's recovery and if at all possible, be a presence in the facility.
