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At Vincentian
Collaborative Services, we are frequently asked questions about
care, financing, living
conditions, and health-related
assistance. We have compiled the answers to some of these questions.
If you have further concerns about such topics or other questions
that have not been addressed, please contact
us. We would be happy to discuss them with you.
CARE
Q. Are VCS nursing facilities regulated and
controlled?
A. Yes. Medicare, Medicaid,
and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health are all
responsible for licensure and certification of all VCS facilities.
And many other agencies also routinely visit and inspect the conditions
and services we offer.
Q.
What is meant by skilled nursing care?
A. Skilled care is professionally
supervised nursing care and other related medical and health services.
Such care is provided for people who are assessed as needing 24-hour
nursing care, which can only be met in a long–term–care
facility on an inpatient basis, and who need the care because of
illness, disease, or injury.
Q.
What is meant by intermediate care?
A. Intermediate care is health-related
care that requires services under a plan of care and supervised
licensed personnel, but does not require hospital or skilled care
on a regular basis. It includes help with the activities of daily
living, such as personal hygiene, dressing, bathing, and eating.
Intermediate care also provides medication administration, routine
care of minor lesions, preventive skin care, and restorative nursing
programs.
Q.
What is meant by personal care?
A. Personal care provides 24-hour
supervision in a pleasant residential setting for those who require
help with the activities of daily living and medication supervision.
The camaraderie residents find with their peers and through special
activities our facilities provide help to promote a stimulating
lifestyle.
Q.
What procedures are followed in case hospital care is required?
A.. Our residents' attending
physicians are responsible for determining if hospital care is required.
In an emergency, facility staff will arrange for transportation
to the nearest emergency room.
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FINANCING
Q.
What is Medicare?
A. Medicare is a federal program
that provides insurance benefits for people over the age of 65 and
for people with disabilities. Medicare Part A covers hospital, nursing
home, home health, and hospice services. Medicare Part B (for which
a monthly premium must be paid) covers physician and medical services.
Medicare will pay for short-term care in a Medicare-certified skilled
nursing facility, short-term home health services, and hospice care.
Q.
What is Medicaid?
A. Medicaid is a joint federal
and state assistance program that covers those who meet eligibility
requirements based on income and financial resources. To qualify
for Medicaid if you are in a nursing home, you must first "spend
down" your assets to a few thousand dollars (including bank
accounts, IRAs, second homes, and stocks and bonds).
Q.
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
A. Medicare can only be used
as a source of payment for skilled nursing care. Eligibility requirements
are strictly defined by Medicare, which will not cover intermediate
or personal care.
.
Q.
Must I turn over my money and possessions in order to be cared
for at a VCS facility?
A. At our facilities, residents
are responsible only for the care and services they receive. Whatever
money and possessions you have in addition to that remain yours.
Q.
Do VCS facilities' fees cover everything?
A. Generally, fees cover only
the nursing care we provide and do not reflect physician visits.
A resident’s insurance may cover such professional services.
Please contact us to answer your
specific questions.
Q.
What is "hospice"?
A. Hospice is a program that
provides pain management and supportive care for the terminally
ill, in the home or as an inpatient. Usually, services are covered
by Medicare and include counseling, education, and bereavement services.
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LIVING
CONDITIONS
Q.
Are VCS facilities open only to members of the Catholic faith?
A. We do not discriminate in
providing our services. VCS doors are open to applicants regardless
of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or disability.
Q.
What are the visiting hours at VCS facilities?
A. Our facilities are always
open to family and friends.
Q.
How often is Mass held at VCS facilities, and who offers Mass
there?
A. Each facility establishes
its own Mass schedule, so please contact
us regarding the specific location(s) you are interested in.
Q.
What is the ratio of staff to residents at VCS facilities?
A. Staff-to-resident ratios
vary from facility to facility, and are dependent on time of day
and the specific care needs of the residents.
Q.
What transportation services do VCS facilities provide?
A. Transportation services vary
from facility to facility, ranging from their own transport buses
to Access buses and automobiles, so please contact
us at the specific location(s) you are interested in.
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HEALTH-RELATED ASSISTANCE
Q.
How long do residents normally stay at VCS facilities?
A. The length of stay for residents
is primarily determined by their medical conditions. Stays that
range from a few weeks to many years are not uncommon. The nursing
staffs at our facilities routinely work with residents, their families,
and their physicians to determine the most appropriate length of
stay.
Q.
What is an advanced directive or living will?
A. An advanced directive, or
living will, is a written set of instructions, provided by a competent
adult, that outlines the types of life-prolonging treatment that
a person would choose if he or she became unable to make medical
decisions. The living will or advanced directive tells whether and
when to begin, continue, or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.
Q.
What types of rehabilitation services do VCS facilities provide?
A. Our facilities provide the
full range of rehabilitation services—speech, occupational,
and physical therapies.
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