FAQ's About Skilled Care
How do I get started in making health care decisions for myself or loved one?
Get started by including your primary care physician in the decision-making process. He or she can tell you about your loved one’s physical, mental and emotional well-being so that you can start to understand what care will be the most beneficial.
Is Holdrege Memorial Homes regularly inspected by the Department of Health?
Yes, we are evaluated yearly. We consistently receive excellent reviews because of our rigorous standards and expectations of our employees with regard to patient care.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 or older or people under 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Medicare does not cover all expenses and is not designed to pay for long-term custodial care, so it is important to understand the program. For patients meeting requirements, Medicare helps cover the costs for hospital stays, skilled nursing home stays up to 100 days, and hospice care. Our admission team members will be happy to provide you with current rates and coverage.
What is Medicaid?
The Medicaid program provides medical benefits to low-income people who have no medical insurance or inadequate medical insurance. The federal government establishes general guidelines for the program, but each state establishes the program’s requirements including eligibility. You can find out more about the Medicaid program through cms.gov or by talking to our admissions team.
What are the different levels of care available?
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers are for those recovering from illness, injury or surgery. Many patients need additional medical and rehabilitative therapies before successfully transitioning from hospital to home. In addition, some residents choose to make a skilled nursing center their permanent home. In this case, it usually means residents need medical supervision and support that can no longer be provided safely at home. Many times patients transitioning home from a hospital or skilled nursing center still need some medical and rehabilitative support at home. Home care can provide this assistance along with medication management, education about a newly diagnosed disease, lifestyle changes and IV care. Assisted living centers are designed for those who still want to retain their independence but need some assistance with taking medications, bathing, dressing or meal preparation. Programming is focused on maintaining skills and retaining quality of life.
What should I look for when choosing a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center?
For short-term stays focused on rehabbing a patient home, ask the center about its successful outcomes treating patients with your or your loved one’s illness, injury or disease. Ask about the staff’s knowledge regarding post-hospital care. Tour the center for cleanliness, friendliness of staff and amenities that are important to you. Ask to sample food and visit with patients similar to you or your loved one.
What can I expect from Holdrege Memorial Homes Nursing staff?
We have licensed nurses on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The charge nurses supervise a staff of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who help patients with bathing, dressing, and meals. In addition, the CNA staff take daily vital signs (i.e., blood pressure, temperature, and pulse) and report these to the charge nurse. Family members may also call the charge nurse at any time for a status report on a patient’s medical condition. We are here to assist with the family’s concerns as well as the patient’s.
What should I look for when selecting a home care provider?
When selecting a home care agency, gather information about how long it has been in business, the range of services provided to meet your needs, the staff’s knowledge in caring for patients with your particular needs, and if staff are insured and bonded. Ask to meet with staff and assess their commitment to meeting your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Ask about any specialized services the agency offers and whether or not it is CHAP-certified. Holdrege Memorial Homes does not provide home care services, but can refer you to organizations in this area.
As a caregiver, I feel I need some help. Where can I turn?
As the child or spouse of an aging or ill loved one, guilt or fear may prevent you from getting the help you need. Our admissions team will be happy to provide you with literature support, referral to community support programs and information about our services.
What should I think about when moving a loved one into a long-term care setting?
Making the move to a long-term care setting can be one of the most difficult decisions you make. To help you and your loved one get acquainted with Holdrege Memorial Homes, make sure you discuss these items with our admissions team so they can help make the transition as smooth as possible. What are the patient’s diet likes and dislikes? How mobile is she? How much can she manage her personal care and hygiene? What were his former living conditions like? What support did she have? What role does religion play in your loved one’s life? What are your loved one’s routines and habits, as well as hobbies? What about mental capacity? Does your loved one fear new surroundings? Does she socialize easily?
I am concerned about the flu. What preventative measures should I take?
Always check with your physician, but the best way to avoid the flu is by getting a flu vaccine. You can also avoid picking up germs or spreading them by washing your hands frequently, avoiding large crowds during flu season and not visiting facilities if you are feeling ill. Cdc.gov has additional information about the flu and the flu vaccine. To prevent the spread of the flu, if you are feeling any flu-like symptoms, we ask that you wait to visit your friends and loved ones until you are feeling better.
Visiting my loved one at a long-term care center is difficult. How can I make it more enjoyable and fulfilling for both of us?
Visitors are very important to our residents, and a well-planned visit can be rewarding for both of you. When visiting a loved one, talk to the staff about the best time to come. Coach your children on what to expect, and plan an activity such as working on a photo album, writing letters, playing cards or a game, or eating a meal together. If your loved one can manage, plan an activity outside of the Homes.
Get started by including your primary care physician in the decision-making process. He or she can tell you about your loved one’s physical, mental and emotional well-being so that you can start to understand what care will be the most beneficial.
Is Holdrege Memorial Homes regularly inspected by the Department of Health?
Yes, we are evaluated yearly. We consistently receive excellent reviews because of our rigorous standards and expectations of our employees with regard to patient care.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 or older or people under 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Medicare does not cover all expenses and is not designed to pay for long-term custodial care, so it is important to understand the program. For patients meeting requirements, Medicare helps cover the costs for hospital stays, skilled nursing home stays up to 100 days, and hospice care. Our admission team members will be happy to provide you with current rates and coverage.
What is Medicaid?
The Medicaid program provides medical benefits to low-income people who have no medical insurance or inadequate medical insurance. The federal government establishes general guidelines for the program, but each state establishes the program’s requirements including eligibility. You can find out more about the Medicaid program through cms.gov or by talking to our admissions team.
What are the different levels of care available?
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers are for those recovering from illness, injury or surgery. Many patients need additional medical and rehabilitative therapies before successfully transitioning from hospital to home. In addition, some residents choose to make a skilled nursing center their permanent home. In this case, it usually means residents need medical supervision and support that can no longer be provided safely at home. Many times patients transitioning home from a hospital or skilled nursing center still need some medical and rehabilitative support at home. Home care can provide this assistance along with medication management, education about a newly diagnosed disease, lifestyle changes and IV care. Assisted living centers are designed for those who still want to retain their independence but need some assistance with taking medications, bathing, dressing or meal preparation. Programming is focused on maintaining skills and retaining quality of life.
What should I look for when choosing a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center?
For short-term stays focused on rehabbing a patient home, ask the center about its successful outcomes treating patients with your or your loved one’s illness, injury or disease. Ask about the staff’s knowledge regarding post-hospital care. Tour the center for cleanliness, friendliness of staff and amenities that are important to you. Ask to sample food and visit with patients similar to you or your loved one.
What can I expect from Holdrege Memorial Homes Nursing staff?
We have licensed nurses on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The charge nurses supervise a staff of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who help patients with bathing, dressing, and meals. In addition, the CNA staff take daily vital signs (i.e., blood pressure, temperature, and pulse) and report these to the charge nurse. Family members may also call the charge nurse at any time for a status report on a patient’s medical condition. We are here to assist with the family’s concerns as well as the patient’s.
What should I look for when selecting a home care provider?
When selecting a home care agency, gather information about how long it has been in business, the range of services provided to meet your needs, the staff’s knowledge in caring for patients with your particular needs, and if staff are insured and bonded. Ask to meet with staff and assess their commitment to meeting your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Ask about any specialized services the agency offers and whether or not it is CHAP-certified. Holdrege Memorial Homes does not provide home care services, but can refer you to organizations in this area.
As a caregiver, I feel I need some help. Where can I turn?
As the child or spouse of an aging or ill loved one, guilt or fear may prevent you from getting the help you need. Our admissions team will be happy to provide you with literature support, referral to community support programs and information about our services.
What should I think about when moving a loved one into a long-term care setting?
Making the move to a long-term care setting can be one of the most difficult decisions you make. To help you and your loved one get acquainted with Holdrege Memorial Homes, make sure you discuss these items with our admissions team so they can help make the transition as smooth as possible. What are the patient’s diet likes and dislikes? How mobile is she? How much can she manage her personal care and hygiene? What were his former living conditions like? What support did she have? What role does religion play in your loved one’s life? What are your loved one’s routines and habits, as well as hobbies? What about mental capacity? Does your loved one fear new surroundings? Does she socialize easily?
I am concerned about the flu. What preventative measures should I take?
Always check with your physician, but the best way to avoid the flu is by getting a flu vaccine. You can also avoid picking up germs or spreading them by washing your hands frequently, avoiding large crowds during flu season and not visiting facilities if you are feeling ill. Cdc.gov has additional information about the flu and the flu vaccine. To prevent the spread of the flu, if you are feeling any flu-like symptoms, we ask that you wait to visit your friends and loved ones until you are feeling better.
Visiting my loved one at a long-term care center is difficult. How can I make it more enjoyable and fulfilling for both of us?
Visitors are very important to our residents, and a well-planned visit can be rewarding for both of you. When visiting a loved one, talk to the staff about the best time to come. Coach your children on what to expect, and plan an activity such as working on a photo album, writing letters, playing cards or a game, or eating a meal together. If your loved one can manage, plan an activity outside of the Homes.
