Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):
What exactly is Skilled Nursing?
- Skilled Nursing Centers are residences designed to house and assist individuals who have health conditions that require constant monitoring and availability of medical personnel. Skilled nursing facilities, also known as nursing homes or extended care services, provide 24-hour supervision, meals, activities and health management support for their residents. Some senior living communities offer designated residences and specialized care for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
What is the difference between Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living?
- While nursing centers provide the highest level of care for seniors outside of a hospital, assisted living is best for seniors who need some assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, and eating, but do not require 24-hour-a-day health care by doctors & healthcare professionals.
When is it time to consider a nursing home for your parents?
- Both medical and personal care needs have become too great to handle at home or in another senior living community. This may be due to a recent hospitalization, or a chronic illness which has gradually been worsening.
- Your parent needs a higher level of care temporarily after a hospitalization, but it’s anticipated you will be able to return to home or another facility after a period of time.
What does the resident need to bring with them?
- The skilled nursing facility will provide the furniture your elderly parent needs in their room. However, to make it feel like home, most skilled nursing facilities encourage residents to bring personal items such as family photos, a familiar bedspread, and treasured belongings.
- If possible, visit our skilled nursing center before your parent moves in, so you can see the physical layout, sizes of the rooms, amount of closet space and any furniture or household items that are included.
What kind of social activities are there at Bellaken Garden?
- Our skilled nursing residences have a full calendar of activities and social events for residents, including fitness classes, ice cream socials, bingo and game night, prayer service, movie night and guest speakers.
How big are the rooms?
- At Bellaken Garden, our rooms house dual beds. The rooms also come with a half bathroom, a closet, and a dresser.
How much does Skilled Nursing/Assisted Living cost?
- The cost of Skilled Nursing/Assisted Living could vary depending on the specific needs of the patients. If you have questions about costs, please feel free to give us a call at 510-536-1838.
How does Bellaken Garden assure quality of care for its residents?
- We select qualified care delivery staff
- We provide orientation and ongoing education to our staff
- We take an integrative approach to skilled nursing care, and follow a comprehensive care plan that’s developed to meet every resident’s unique, individual needs
- We act on our results by changing methods of how care is delivered
- We proactively seek ways to improve care
- We use best practices where established
- We have consistent medical direction and input
- We learn from our State and Federal surveys
- We listen to what our residents and their families are telling us
- We assign each resident his/her own aide to build a special bond between residents and staff
What should families look for to assess the overall quality of skilled nursing care?
- Services and specialties that match the needs of your loved one
- Recommendations from doctors, social workers and family members of residents
- Warm, friendly, and respectful interactions among staff, residents, and family members
- Respected and knowledgeable facility leadership, medical direction, and board members
- An inviting and homelike environment
- Visit frequently after placement, drop by at various times
- Express your concerns and needs to the staff
- Ask questions