Decision Guide
The decision to move to a senior living community is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. You will need to consider personal finances and the services you want to maintain your highest quality of life. Baptist Homes Society is licensed as a Continuing Care Retirement Community, which means we offer the full continuum of care on our two campuses–Baptist Homes and Providence Point.
Independent Living at Baptist Manor
Baptist Homes offers two types of independent living. The first is available through a continuing care contract, which guarantees access to the full continuum of care with the payment of a one-time entrance fee and a monthly maintenance fee. Residents with this contract utilize the many services available on the campus, including dining, gift shop, beauty shop, medical clinic, and wellness center.
The second type is an independent living program for older adults with lower incomes. Baptist Manor is Section 8/202 housing, subsidized by the federal government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Baptist Manor has 100 apartments, ten of which are accessible. There are laundry rooms on each floor, and three separate lounge/community rooms. All apartments have one bedroom, a kitchen with stove and refrigerator, a living room, a bathroom equipped with grab bars, and an emergency response system. Applicants must be 62 years of age or mobility impaired, and their income cannot exceed limits which are adjusted annually by HUD. There is frequently a waiting list; applicants are encouraged to place their names on the list with the option to decline if they are called before they are ready to move. Baptist Manor has a service coordinator on staff to help residents access support services that are available in the community when needed.
Baptist Manor is unique in that it is located on the Baptist Homes campus. Residents may utilize many community services and amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center. Residence in Baptist Manor does not guarantee that an individual who may need a higher level of care can move to other service areas at Baptist Homes.
Personal Care Residence
Baptist Homes’ continuum of care includes our Personal Care Residence. The residence provides food, shelter, and personal assistance or supervision, on a 24-hour basis, for individuals who need help with everyday tasks. This includes assistance with dressing, bathing, diet, medications, and getting to and from meals and activities. Generally, residents must be at least 65 years old, and be able to get into and out of bed independently. Our residence offers 54 private rooms, each with a full bath. Each floor has a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry room, and a lounge.
Monthly rates are determined by the size of the room and level of assistance an individual needs. This fee provides three meals a day in our main dining room, laundry and housekeeping services, cable television, and access to all spiritual and recreational activities on campus.
The State of Pennsylvania provides no funding for residency in Personal Care, so residents are expected to cover the full cost of care. Many facilities will ask residents to leave if they can no longer pay for the care they need. Fortunately, Baptist Homes has a tradition of benevolence, soliciting contributions from friends, family, and churches, and has a limited ability to provide for those who demonstrate financial need. We are not always able to admit everyone who may eventually require financial assistance, but we have never asked anyone to leave because their funds are depleted. Admission decisions are based on medical appropriateness, room availability, and financial requirements. Many Personal Care facilities do not offer skilled or post-acute care when or if needed. Personal Care residents at Baptist Homes are able to transition smoothly to nursing care because we provide both services in our community.
Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Suites
Our Nursing Center provides care for people who require skilled medical treatment, rehabilitation, or nursing services, on a short- or long-term basis. Health care services are overseen by our medical director and a number of attending physicians. We are proud of our reputation for quality, and have the ability to serve up to 126 individuals in primarily semi-private rooms. There are 20 rooms designated as a secure memory care center for individuals exhibiting behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Daily semi-private room rates cover nursing services, meals, laundry, housekeeping, cable television, and spiritual and recreational activities. Physician and specialist services, therapies, pharmacy services, laboratory fees, medical supplies, durable medical equipment, and ancillary services are billed separately. Our physiatrist serves as our Medical Director for Rehabilitation services, and coordinates each individual’s care with our interdisciplinary clinical team.
Many people erroneously expect Medicare to cover the total cost of nursing care. Medicare will frequently pay for 10-15 days of care and, in certain situations, will cover up to 100 days of care. The resident is responsible for all co-payments which may or may not be covered by secondary insurance. When Medicare coverage ends, residents are expected to pay the full cost of their nursing services. There are three ways to do this: private payments; accessing a long-term care insurance policy; or accessing the Medical Assistance program (Medicaid).
Medicaid is a government program that pays for care in nursing homes after a resident has used all of his/her assets, except an amount specified by Medical Assistance, which varies with income levels and assets such as an irrevocable burial reserve. Residents who receive Medical Assistance are required to use their social security and pension incomes to pay for their care. If the resident is married, federal law allows a spouse who still lives in the community to keep half of the couple’s combined assets up to a limit established by Medical Assistance, plus certain exempt items such as a house and furnishings, and a portion of the couple’s monthly income. Baptist Homes staff are available to assist with the Medical Assistance application process. All beds on Baptist Homes’ campus are Medicare and Medicaid certified. Our admissions staff can help you in determining what your costs will be.
Individuals who come in for nursing services have the opportunity to document their wishes for end-of-life care through an advance medical directive such as a living will or durable power of attorney. Without such a directive, our policy is to provide full treatment, including CPR and hospitalization, if needed.