FAQ
Additionally, a nursing home should be considered when higher-level care is needed temporarily after a hospitalization but the patient is expected to be able to return home or to another facility after a period of time. If you aren’t sure, the Department of Aging will do a care assessment to determine if a person is ready for a nursing home.
We love visitors! You’re welcome to stop by and see the physical layout, sizes of the rooms, amount of closet space, and any furniture or household items that are included. We also offer a list of suggested items to bring and a floor plan for visitors to review.
Medicare covers post-hospital, short-term skilled care only—and may not cover the cost of ongoing nursing home care. For low-income seniors who meet eligibility requirements, Medicaid might pay a portion of the cost.
Also, the state will not place a lien on the home if a spouse or certain dependents are living there. When the Medical Assistance recipient passes away, if he or she does not have a surviving spouse or a surviving child who is unmarried and under 21 or is blind or disabled, the state can recover from his or her estate what Medical Assistance paid for nursing home care after the individual turned 55 years of age. If the person is survived by a spouse, a child who is unmarried and under 21, or a child who is blind or disabled, the state cannot recover those funds from the estate until the surviving spouse dies and there is no longer a surviving child living there who is unmarried and under 21 or is blind or disabled. The state has no claim against the estate of the surviving spouse or child.
The Maryland Legal Aid Bureau offers more information about how the Medical Assistance coverage in nursing homes operates.
If your loved one is suffering from dementia, adjustment may be more difficult as they may not remember why they need to stay at the nursing home despite how well or how often you explain the reasons. A support group may help you deal with the stress and unique challenges that come with caring for your loved one and could offer you more specific ways to help him or her.
Personal laundry service is provided by the facility. Clothing should be machine washable and dryable. Each item of clothing should be indelibly marked with the resident’s name (first initial and last name). Families should expect to assist in maintaining the resident’s wardrobe.
If your goal, like that of many, is to avoid nursing home placement, you may want to research some supports you can bring into the home such as home health care services or meals for seniors. These services can often extend the time someone can live at home.
However, you should also identify and consider your options in case your loved one does ever need a facility. Remember that getting information about possible facilities is much easier when you’re able do this research at your own convenience instead of making a rushed decision because your loved one is at the hospital and needs to be transferred out in an hour.
Even if you never need to use that information, perhaps it will still bring you a little peace of mind.