SERVICES WE PROVIDE
Nursing- Pharmacy
- Rehabilitative Services
- VitalStim Therapy
- Dietary and Nutrition Consultations
- Social Services
- Activities and Therapeutic Recreation
- Business Office Assistance with Medicare, Medicaid, and Insurance Billing
- Housekeeping, Laundry, and Maintenance
- Beauty Shop/Barber Services
- Telephone – TV
- Mail, Newspaper, Flowers
- Hospice Services
Nursing
Licensed, experienced RN’s and LPN’s provide the professional, skilled care in assessing the health needs of each resident and maintaining close communication with physicians to facilitate early identification and treatment of health problems, as well as administering medications, I.V. therapy, treatments, and other nursing services to each resident. Certified Nursing Assistants provide personal care to each resident under the supervision of RN’s and LPN’s.
A nurse M.D.S. Coordinator oversees the process of evaluating residents and establishing a plan of care for each resident through an interdisciplinary team process. Our Nursing Restorative Program evaluates each resident for the potential to participate in nursing rehabilitation and then designs a resident-specific program to enhance independence and quality of life.
All nursing services are provided under the direction of a qualified nurse management team led by an experienced R.N. Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Nurse Manager’s and Resident Care Coordinator. Nursing staff are all required to attend in-service education programs designed to keep the nursing staff current in nursing practice standards. They will assist you with Medicare Part D billing.
Pharmacy
Our consultant pharmacist is professionally qualified to perform pharmacy functions necessary to assure a safe and adequate medication regimen. A pharmacist will handle all prescribed medication orders from physicians. Our pharmacy service is on standby 24 hours a day/7 days a week in case of emergency. Medication billing is done directly by the pharmacy.
We are unable to use any medication brought with the resident at the time of admission, per State regulation, unless the resident is being transferred from a hospital or another nursing facility. They will assist you with Medicare Part D billing.
Rehabilitative Services
Rehabilitative services in the facility include Physical, Occupational, Speech, I.V., and Wound Therapies. These are initiated when ordered by the attending physician. It is the policy of our facility to encourage our residents to participate daily to promote a sense of personal dignity and accomplishment. Rehabilitation is focused on attaining the highest level of functioning for our residents.
VitalStim Therapy
What is VitalStim Therapy?
An exciting new therapy, proven and painless
Introducing VitalStim® Therapy, the first proven treatment for dysphagia. It's the only dysphagia therapy backed by compelling clinical data and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Based on clinical electrical stimulation
- Proven safe
- Remarkably successful in real-world use
- Better-and faster-results than any traditional therapy
The only neuromuscular electrical stimulation that is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to treat dysphagia.
Training muscles to function again
VitalStim Therapy uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. At the same time, trained specialists help patients "re-educate" their muscles through rehabilitation therapy.
- A small, carefully calibrated current is delivered by specially designed electrodes.
- The current stimulates motor nerves in the throat.
- The muscles responsible for swallowing contract.
- The quality of the swallowing function improves.
- With repeated therapy, muscles are re-educated.
Safety affirmed - by the FDA
NMES is routinely used to help restore muscle function. But traditional NMES treatments are contraindicated for use on the anterior neck. The specific concerns: that stimulating the laryngeal afferents could trigger laryngospasm, and that placing electrodes too close to the carotid artery could cause sinus bradycardia.
But VitalStim® Therapy is not a traditional treatment. And, therefore, received FDA clearance for use on the swallowing muscles.
- Uses only small amounts of electrical current
- Only adverse effects reported: slight, occasional redness of the skin
- The FDA has concluded that VitalStim Therapy is safe and effective
VitalStim Therapy must be prescribed by a physician. It can only be administered under the direction of certified health care professionals with at least three years' experience treating dysphagia.
The contraindications for VitalStim Therapy are specific to patients suffering from dysphagia. Caution should be used with patients who have cardiac demand pacemakers. Its use is contraindicated with patients who are severely demented and exhibit non-stop verbalization. Constant verbalization could result in aspiration during trials of oral intake. VitalStim Therapy is also contraindicated in patients with significant reflux due to use of a feeding tube. Such patients are prone to repeated cases of aspiration pneumonia, and the VitalStim Therapy device has not been studied in this population. Use of the VitalStim Therapy device is contraindicated in patients with dysphagia due to drug toxicity. Patients suffering from drug toxicity could aspirate during trials of oral intake.
Dietary and Nutrition Consultations
Tasty, hot homemade meals are attractively served in our dining areas and resident rooms. Assistance with eating, when necessary, is a normal function of our staff. Menus are planned by a Registered Dietician. These menus are prepared under the direction of our certified Food Service Supervisor. We provide a substitute menu for our residents, enabling them to make a choice when it comes to their meals. Prescribed special diets are given special attention by our Dietary staff.
Snacks are available in the mornings, afternoons, and at night. Physicians’ orders control the bringing of additional foods to patients, and regulations do not permit food to be stored in the residents’ rooms. Prior to the discharge home, our Dietary Staff will meet with you to assist in maintaining your nutritional health in the home.
Social Services
The Admission Office initiates contact with the residents and their families at the time of application. Appointments can be arranged for a tour prior to admission to acquaint families and potential residents with our facility, and to discuss any questions you may have about the admission process, or facility policies and procedures.
Following admission, we continue to provide supportive services to meet individual needs. We are pleased to direct families through the proper channels if it becomes necessary to apply for Medicaid assistance, or supplementary insurance. Our Social Services Director is available to handle any concerns or needs that you may have regarding your resident or our facility.
Activities and Therapeutic Recreation
The Activity Department provides our residents the opportunity for leisure time programs that are developed around the philosophy of independence. Both large and small group activities are provided. Arts and crafts, social hours, movies, and much more is provided every day of the week. We also provide nighttime activities for our residents. We have volunteers who come into the facility throughout the year to entertain and support our residents. An effort is made to meet religious and spiritual needs. Special activities and events such as buffet breakfasts are scheduled monthly and special theme dinners are scheduled throughout the year. The Activity Department also assists residents with small purchases during each month.
Business Office
The Business Office is open Monday through Friday. An individual interest bearing Resident Fund account may be established in the office to provide residents with small amounts of cash for incidental purchases. The Resident Fund is also used for residents who get their hair done regularly at our Beauty Shop. Funds are automatically deducted from the account at the time of service. Quarterly statements of each account are mailed to responsible parties. A safe is provided for safekeeping of resident valuables. It is expected that charges for routine care be paid one month in advance. All other charges are billed after the rendering of services. For example, the billing for routine care in November is made on November 1, with payment due upon receipt of the bill. This November bill includes ancillary charges from October.
Housekeeping, Laundry, and Maintenance
Our housekeeping and maintenance staffs make every effort to assure that our facility is well-kept and clean. Housekeeping staff clean the entire facility, including all resident rooms, daily. Preventative maintenance programs are in place to assure the good working condition of the facility inside and outside. Good housekeeping practices, as required by law, limit the type and amount of personal items allowed in resident rooms.
We provide total laundry service. There is no additional charge for laundering personal clothing. All clothing must be durable and of wash and wear, non-iron materials. It also must be properly labeled with a permanent marker or name tags. Please do not write names where they can visible on the outside of the clothing.
A form is provided to record all personal belongings brought into the facility.
Beauty Shop/Barber Services
We provide beautician services during the week.
Telephone – TV
If residents wish to have a personal phone installed in their room, we will facilitate installation and the phone company will bill the responsible party directly. Residents are also permitted to bring in their own TV (tabletop-size preferred) and TV stand. If the resident wants cable TV, the cable TV Company can be contacted and will bill the responsible party directly.
Mail, Newspaper, Flowers
Mail will be delivered daily to the resident’s room. If a resident needs help opening the mail, or would like their mail read to them, then simply ask the Activities Assistant delivering the mail and we will be happy to assist. Outgoing mail can be brought to the front desk for mailing. All mail received after discharge will be forwarded to the address given at time of discharge.
Morning newspapers are available and should be ordered by the family. Our staff will deliver the paper to the room. There is a daily newspaper kept in the Activities Room for all to read. Any special deliveries, such as flowers, will be delivered directly to the resident’s room.
Hospice Services
Hospice services are also available to residents in need of palliative care. You may contact our Nursing or Social Services Departments to assist in arranging Hospice services for your loved ones.
