Frequently Asked Questions

| Facts and information that will help you put your mind to rest

How do I know what kind of services I need?

ANSWER | Usually, if you need Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing care, your own physician will recommend it. If, for example, you've been hospitalized because of a fall or surgery, your doctor may recommend a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) where you can stay on-site and get rehab several times a day until you are strong enough to return home or move to an Assisted Living campus.

What is the difference between Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living?

ANSWER | Skilled Nursing, or a "nursing home," is designed to care for very frail people who are not able to care for themselves — either short-term or long-term. Assisted Living is for people who are mostly independent but may need help with certain activities — getting up in the morning, setting up their medications, taking a bath, etc. Assisted Living may also be appropriate for people who can be independent most of the time, but occasionally have memory lapses or physical difficulties. Having trained staff nearby gives such people the security of knowing they are safe.

What should I look for in an Assisted Living campus?

ANSWER | If you are helping a loved one, first determine his or her needs and write them down. Your list might include: "Needs help walking," "Forgets whether he's taken his meds," "Needs help in the bathroom," or "Needs to participate in more social activities." Take this list with you when you tour an Assisted Living campus you are considering. A good Assisted Living community will have a list of services that are included in the base price, and they may have additional levels of care that include other services. Compare the services offered with your list of needs.

In addition, you'll want to pay attention to other factors. How many staff people do you see? How are they interacting with the residents? How clean are the rooms and common areas? What kinds of activities are offered? When you make your appointment to tour the campus, ask if you can have lunch in the dining room during a regular meal. The response you receive will help you determine how accommodating this community is. And experiencing an actual meal time will tell you a lot about the community as well. Not only will you be able to judge the food, but you'll also be able to watch staff and resident interactions.

What should I look for in a Skilled Nursing Facility or rehab center?

ANSWER | First, determine your needs — short-term rehab, long-term nursing care, or a combination of both. Your doctor or discharge planner will probably have recommendations about which facilities are best at meeting which needs, and you may accept their recommendations, but you should also feel free to do your own research and selection if you prefer.

When choosing a rehab center, ask about their success rates in meeting the rehabilitation needs of their clients. Ask about their discharge rate back to the community. Ask specifically what kinds of licensed therapists they have on staff — Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapy are the most common needs.

When choosing long-term care, ask about the CNA-to-resident ratio as well as the number of RNs or LPNs on staff. Tour the building, taking note of cleanliness — both of the building and of the residents. Notice how the staff interact with the residents, and ask to see a menu and a calendar of recreational activities.

What are the benefits of choosing a not-for-profit organization?

ANSWER | Not-for-profit organizations tend to focus more on mission than on money. That is, whatever profits they do make are re-invested in serving more people, offering more services, and making more of a difference in the world. Not-for-profit organizations often manage to do more with less. In fact, a 2006 study published in Advocate says, “Not-for-profit nursing homes generally provide better care than those operated by for-profit, an analysis of state inspections for some 16,000 homes nationwide found.” And Management Consultant Peter Drucker wrote in Managing the Not-for-Profit Organization: “The role of not-for-profits, as one of three major institutions in America, is nothing less than to change lives.” When you choose a not-for-profit retirement community or nursing home like Providence Life Services, you are more likely to be served by staff who are there because they believe in helping others. Each Providence community is more than an address, more than a job. It’s a mindset, a culture, a way of doing life. It’s a place of enduring relationships, genuine smiles, selfless service. It’s a community that bears a greater purpose and a sense of calling. Providence Life Services. With you. For you.