What Every Family Needs To Know About Medicaid, VA Benefits & Long Term Care Planning

Transcription

1 Nursing Home & Assisted Living Guide For Northern New Jersey What Every Family Needs To Know About Medicaid, VA Benefits & Long Term Care Planning How To: Find The Right Nursing Home Or Assisted Living Facility Receive The Best Care Pay For It Without Going Broke 570 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue Suite 101 Livingston, NJ Tel: (973) Fax: (973) January 2013 Edition

2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Selecting a Nursing Facility Nursing Home Evaluation Form 6 4. Nursing Homes Division of Assets & Medicaid Planning Some Common Questions Assisted Living Guide Veteran s Aid and Attendance Assisted Living Checklist Assisted Living Facilities Adult Day Care Centers Legal Assistance In Conclusion Sponsor Ads.74

3 INTRODUCTION The decision to move a family member or a loved one into a nursing home or assisted living facility is one of the most difficult decisions you can make. Perhaps the move is being made because the family member can no longer care for him or herself or perhaps the person has a progressive disease like Alzheimer s or has had a stroke or heart attack. No matter the reason, those involved are almost always under great stress. In times like these, it is important that you pause, take a deep breath and understand there are things you can do that can make the experience a little easier. Good information is available and you can make the right choices for your loved one. This booklet is designed to help provide you with information and answers to the questions that we, as elder law attorneys, deal with on a daily basis. We found it helpful to our clients as we put the information together, and we hope you will find it useful as well. Yale S. Hauptman, Esq. Laurie A. Hauptman, Esq. Hauptman & Hauptman, P.C. The Hauptman and Hauptman Nursing Home & Assisted Living Guide For Northern New Jersey is carefully researched, and is intended to supply accurate, complete and helpful information. The publisher cannot however, guarantee the accuracy of information contained therein nor endorses any product or service represented. The guide is for informational purposes and is not intended, nor does it constitute, legal advice. Federal Fair Housing Act All Communities/Facilities participating in our directory are subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act. Under this Act, it is appropriate and legal to discriminate in housing based upon certain defined and proved categories such as senior housing; however, the Federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in housing based upon race, color, religion, familial status, national origin, handicap, or sex. 2

4 Selecting a Nursing Facility When someone is faced with the overwhelming job of finding a nursing home for a loved one, the question often asked is Where do I begin? Although this is a job that no one wants to do, it can be done with forethought and confidence that the best decision will be made for everyone involved. When nursing home placement is necessary, it is crucial that the family and/or potential resident decide what s most important to them in looking for a facility. It is important that the resident s needs and wants be included in this evaluation. Factors such as the location of the facility, if a special care unit is necessary, and type of payer source should be considered when beginning this process. The next step is to identify the facilities in your area that meet the criteria you established above. If placement is down the road and you have time, call the nursing facilities and ask them to send you their information packet including an activity calendar and a menu. Get ready to tour the facilities you have chosen. Don t schedule your tours. Just show up during regular business hours. You will be able to meet with the administrative staff who will answer all your questions. Next, you will want to tour a second time in the evening or on the weekend just to see if there is a drastic difference in the atmosphere of the facility or the care being provided. It is important to tour at least two facilities so you can see the difference in the physical layout and the staff. When you are touring, pay attention to your gut feeling. Ask yourself the following questions. Did I feel welcome? How long did I have to wait to meet with someone? Did the admission director find out my family member s wants and needs? Was the facility clean? Were there any strong odors? Was the staff friendly? Did they seem to generally care for the resident? Did the staff seem to get along with each other? Listen and observe. You can learn so much just by watching and paying attention. When touring a facility, ask any questions that come to mind. There are no dumb questions. Here are a few examples of questions you will want to ask to make sure that the administration of the facility is giving proactive care instead of reacting to crisis. 3

5 How do you ensure that call lights are answered promptly regardless of your staffing? If someone is not able to move or turn him or herself, how do you ensure that they are turned and do not develop bedsores? How do you make sure that someone is assisted with the activities of daily living like dressing, toileting and transferring? Can residents bring in their own supplies? Can residents use any pharmacy they choose? How many direct care staff members do you have on each shift? Does this number exceed the minimal number that state regulations say you have to have or do you just meet the minimum standard? What payer sources do you accept? How long has the medical director been with your facility? How were your last state survey results? (Ask to see a copy) How did you correct these deficiencies and what processes did you put in place to make sure you do no make these mistakes again? Has the state prohibited this facility from accepting new residents at any time during the last 2 years? What is your policy on family care planning conferences? Will you adjust your schedule to make sure that I can attend the meeting? Do you have references I can talk with? Can my loved one come in for a meal to see if he/she fits in and likes the facility? Attached is a form you can use when touring facilities. This will help you keep track of which facility you liked best and those you did not care for. Once a facility has been chosen, there are some definite steps you can take to make the process less traumatic on the resident. First, plan the admission carefully. If you know the resident becomes very difficult to deal with in the late afternoon, plan the admission for mid-morning. Next, complete the admission paperwork before your loved one actually moves into the facility. This will allow you to spend the first few hours that you are there with them getting them settled and making them feel secure in their new living environment. Some practical things you want to be sure to do. mark every piece of clothing with a permanent laundry marker. When a facility is washing the clothes for 120 people, it is common for things to occasionally end up in the wrong room, however you can help ensure getting the item back if it is properly marked. If you are going to do your loved one s laundry, post a sign on the closet door to notify staff and provide a laundry bag where dirty clothes can be placed. Also, bring in familiar things for the resident so that there is a feeling of home. However, realize that space is limited especially in a semiprivate room. 4

6 A very important thing for you to remember is that the staff members of the facility are just meeting your loved one for the first time. They do not know his or her likes or dislikes, or those little nuances that make providing care go more smoothly. The best way you can help your loved one is to tell the staff, in writing, as much information as possible about your loved one his/her likes and dislikes, typical daily schedule, pet peeves, and so on. It is important that you get to know the people who are caring for your loved one. Most importantly, stay involved. Let everyone know how much you care and how committed you are to your loved one s care. Also understand you will not help your loved one by becoming anxious or emotional. Assure them that although this is not an ideal situation, you will be there to assist them in making it as pleasurable as possible. Nursing Home Evaluation As you visit nursing homes, use the following form for each place you visit. Don t expect every nursing home to score well on every question. The presence or absence of any of these items does not automatically mean a facility is good or bad. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Simply consider what is most important to the resident and you. Record your observations for each question by circling a number from one to five. (If a question is unimportant to you or doesn t apply to your loved one, leave the evaluation area for that question blank.) Then total all the numbers you circled. Your ratings will help you compare nursing homes and choose the best one for your situation. But, don t rely simply on the numbers. Ask to speak to family members of other residents. Also, contact the state Department of Health and Senior Services for information about the nursing home. You can find a report card for each facility at Also, get a copy of the facility s state inspection report for the nursing home from the agency that licenses (or certifies) nursing homes or the ombudsman. You are able to view nursing home comparisons by visiting 5

7 Nursing Home Evaluation Form Name of Nursing Home: Date Visited: Poor==Excellent 1= = = = = = 5 The Buildings and Surrounding What is your first impression of the facility? What is the condition of the facility s exterior (paint, gutters and trim)? Are the grounds pleasant and well kept? Do you like the view from resident s rooms and other windows? Do residents with Alzheimer s disease live in a separate Alzheimer s unit? Does the nursing home provide a secure outdoor area? Is there a secure area where a resident with Alzheimer s Disease can safely wander on walking paths? Are there appropriate areas for physical therapy and other occupational therapy? Is there a well-ventilated room for smokers? Are facilities for barber or beauty salon services available? What is your impression of general cleanliness throughout the facility? Does the facility smell clean? Is there enough space in resident rooms and common areas for the number of residents? How noisy are hallways and common areas? Is the dining area clean and pleasant? Is there room at and between tables for both residents and aides for those who need assistance with meals? 6

8 Are common areas like lounges and activity rooms in use? Are residents allowed to bring pieces of furniture and other personal items to decorate their rooms? The Staff, Policies and Practices Does the administrator know residents by name and speak to them in a pleasant, friendly way? Do staff and residents communicate with cheerful, respectful attitudes? Do staff and administration seem to work well with each other in a spirit of cooperation? Do residents get permanent assignment of staff? Do nursing assistants participate in the resident s care planning process? How good is the nursing home s record for employee retention? Does the state ombudsman visit the nursing home on a regular basis? How likely is an increase in private pay rates? Are there any additional charges not included in the daily or monthly rate? Residents Concerns What method is used in selecting roommates? What is a typical day like? Can residents choose what time to go to bed and wake up? Are meaningful activities available that are appropriate for resident participation? If activities are in progress, what is the level of resident participation? Can residents continue to participate in interests like gardening or have contact with pets? 7

9 Does the nursing home provide transportation for community outings and activities? Is a van or bus with wheel chair access available? Do residents on Medicaid get mental health services or occupational, speech or physical therapies if needed? What is your impression of the general cleanliness and grooming of residents? How are decisions about method and frequency of bathing made? How do residents get their clothes laundered? What happens when clothing or other items are missing? Are meals appetizing and served promptly at mealtime? Are snacks available between meals? If residents call out for help or use a call light do they get prompt, appropriate responses? Does each resident have the same nursing assistant(s) most of the time? How does a resident voice a complaint if there is a problem? Do residents participate in care plan meetings when they are able to? Does the nursing home have an effective resident council? Family Considerations How convenient is the nursing home s location to family members who may want to visit the resident? Are there areas other than the resident s room were family members can visit? Does the facility have safe, well-lighted, convenient parking? 8

10 Are hotels/motels nearby for out-of-town family members? Are area restaurants suitable for taking residents out for a meal with family members? How convenient will care planning conferences be for interested family members? Is an effective family council in place? Can family/staff meetings be scheduled to discuss and work out any problems that may arise? Total Score: 9

11 How to Receive the Best Care in a Nursing Home Once you find a nursing home for your loved one, you can begin to ease the transition from one level of care to another. The most important way you can help is to ensure that your loved one receives good care in the new environment. If you have been providing some or all of your loved one s care, you ll notice a change in your role. Rather than functioning as a caregiver, you ll instead become a care advocate. You will still be caring for your loved one, but in a new way. Your key roles are to participate in planning for your loved one s care and to frequently communicate with the nursing home staff. Care Planning The care planning process begins with a baseline assessment. This assessment occurs soon after a resident moves into a nursing home, certainly within the first two weeks. A team from the nursing home which may include a doctor, nurse, social worker, dietician and physical, occupational or recreational therapist, uses information from both the resident and the family about the resident s medical and emotional needs. This baseline assessment then becomes the yardstick against which the caregivers can measure the resident s progress. The team asks family members about the resident s medical, psychological, spiritual and social needs. You can also contribute information about your loved one s preferences and usual routine. For example, you might tell the staff, Dad likes to listen to the radio as he falls asleep. He s been doing this since I was a child. During the assessment process, you can help by making your own list of your loved one s needs and giving the list to a member of the assessment team. For example, you may have noticed signs of depression along with symptoms of Alzheimer s. The assessment team may not notice these signs, so your input will be invaluable. 10

12 In the space below list your loved one s medical needs: In the space below list your loved one s psychological needs: In the space below list your loved one s spiritual needs: In the space below list your loved one s social needs: In the space below list your loved one s preferences and usual routines: 11

13 The assessment team uses all the information they gather to develop an individualized formal care plan. The care plan defines specific care the resident needs and outlines strategies the staff will use to meet them. The assessment team meets during the first month of a new resident s placement at a care-planning meeting. Family members, as well as the resident, may attend. When you go to the care plan meeting, bring along a copy of the list of needs you gave the assessment team earlier. Together, you can discuss your loved one s needs and the care plan that the team has developed. And, if some need has been overlooked, you can ensure that the assessment team addresses it during this meeting. Federal law requires that nursing home care result in improvement, if improvement is possible. In cases where improvement is not possible, the care must maintain abilities or slow the loss of function. For example, if your mother has a little problem with language when she moves into the nursing home, the care plan should include activities that encourage her use of language unless or until the disease s progression changes this ability. The care plan becomes part of the nursing home contract. It should detail the resident s medical, emotional and social needs and spell out what will be done to improve (when possible) or maintain the resident s health. According to federal law, nursing homes must review the resident s care plan every three months and whenever the resident s condition changes. It must also reassess the resident annually. At these times additional care planning meetings are held to update the resident s care plan. For example, if your father had bladder control when he entered the nursing home, but has become incontinent, this significant change in his status means the nursing home staff must develop a new care plan that addresses his new need. As a care advocate, you ll want to monitor your loved one s care to be sure the nursing home is providing the care outlined in the care plan. You may also attend all care planning meetings, whether regularly scheduled or when held because of a change in your loved one s health. This is the best way to ensure that your loved one receives personal and appropriate care in the nursing home. 12

14 NURSING HOMES Bergen County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT ALLENDALE Allendale Nursing Home 85 Harreton Road Allendale, NJ (201) CRESSKILL Care One at Cresskill 221 County Road Cresskill, NJ (201) EMERSON Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 70 Main Street Emerson, NJ (201) Emerson Health Care Center 100 Kinderkamack Road Emerson, NJ (201) ENGLEWOOD The Actors Fund Homes 175 West Hudson Avenue Englewood, NJ (201) Inglemoor Center 333 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ (201) FAIRLAWN Maple Glen Center Saddle River Road Fairlawn, NJ (201) WanderGuard or Similar System 13

15 NURSING HOMES Bergen County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT HACKENSACK Care One Wellington 301 Union Street Hackensack, NJ (201) Prospect Heights Care Center 336 Prospect Avenue Hackensack, NJ (201) Regent Care Center 50 Polify Road Hackensack, NJ (201) MAYWOOD Maywood Center For Health And Rehabilitation 100 West Magnolia Avenue Maywood, NJ (201) NEW MILFORD Woodcrest Health Care Center 800 River Road New Milford, NJ (201) NORWOOD The Buckingham At Norwood Care & Rehabilitation 100 McClellan Street Norwood, NJ (201) OAKLAND Oakland Care Center 20 Breakneck Road Oakland, NJ (201) WanderGuard or Similar System 14

16 NURSING HOMES Bergen County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT ORADELL Oradell Health Care Center 600 Kinderkamack Road Oradell, NJ (201) PARAMUS Bergen Regional Medical Center 230 E Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, NJ (201) Care One at Pine Rest W-90 Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, NJ (201) Dellridge Health & Rehabilitation Center 532 Farview Avenue Paramus, NJ (201) N.J. Veterans Memorial Home-Paramus 1 Veterans Drive Paramus, NJ (201) PARK RIDGE The Plaza Regency At Park Ridge 120 Noyes Drive Park Ridge, NJ (201) RIDGEWOOD Ridgewood Center 330 Franklin Turnpike Ridgewood, NJ (201) Van Dyk Manor of Ridgewood 304 S. Van Dien Avenue Ridgewood, NJ (201) WanderGuard or Similar System 15

17 NURSING HOMES Bergen County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT ROCHELLE PARK Bristol Manor 96 Parkway Avenue Rochelle Park, NJ (201) The Chateau at Rochelle Park 96 Parkway Rochelle Park, NJ (201) ROCKLEIGH Bergen County Health Care Center 35 B Piermont Road Rockleigh, NJ (201) Jewish Home At Rockleigh 10 Link Drive Rockleigh, NJ (201) TEANECK Care One At Teaneck 544 Teaneck Road Teaneck, NJ (201) Teaneck Nursing Center 1104 Teaneck Road Teaneck, NJ (201) TENAFLY County Manor Rehabilitation and Health Care Center 133 County Road Tenafly, NJ (201) WESTWOOD Care One at Valley 300 Old Hook Road Westwood, NJ (201) WanderGuard or Similar System 16

18 NURSING HOMES Bergen County (continued) WOODCLIFF LAKE Woodcliff Lake Health & Rehabilitation Center 555 Chestnut Ridge Road Woodcliff Lake, NJ (201) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT WYCKOFF Christian Health Care Center 301 Sicomac Ave Wyckoff, NJ (201) NURSING HOMES Essex County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BLOOMFIELD Job Haines Home For Aged People 250 Bloomfield Ave Bloomfield, NJ (973) Park Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 23 Park Place Bloomfield, NJ (973) CALDWELL St. Catherine of Siena 7 Ryerson Avenue Caldwell, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 17

19 NURSING HOMES Essex County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT CEDAR GROVE Arbor Glen Center 25 E Lindsley Road Cedar Grove, NJ (973) Cedar Hill 110 Grove Avenue Cedar Grove, NJ (973) The Canterbury At Cedar Grove Care and Rehabilitation 398 Pompton Avenue Cedar Grove, NJ (973) St. Vincent s Nursing Home 315 East Lindsley Road Cedar Grove, NJ (973) Waterview Center 536 Ridge Road Cedar Grove, NJ (973) EAST ORANGE Brookhaven Health Care Center 120 Park End Place East Orange, NJ (973) New Grove Manor 101 North Grove Street East Orange, NJ (973) Park Crescent Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center 480 Parkway Drive East Orange, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 18

20 NURSING HOMES Essex County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT EAST ORANGE (continued) Windsor Gardens Care Center 140 Park Ave East Orange, NJ (973) IRVINGTON Chancellor Specialty Care Center 155 Fortieth Street Irvington, NJ (973) LIVINGSTON Inglemoor Rehabilitation and Care Center of Livingston 311 S Livingston Avenue Livingston, NJ (973) Care One At Livingston 68 Passaic Avenue Livingston, NJ (973) MONTCLAIR Gates Manor Gates Avenue Montclair, NJ (973) Little Nursing Home 71 Christopher Street Montclair, NJ (973) Mountainside Hospital One Bay Avenue Montclair, NJ (973) Van Dyk Manor of Montclair 42 North Mountain Avenue Montclair, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 19

21 NURSING HOMES Essex County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT NEWARK Forest Hill Healthcare Center 497 Mt. Prospect Avenue Newark, NJ (973) New Community Extended Care Facility 266 S Orange Ave Newark, NJ (973) New Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 300 Broadway Newark, NJ (973) Newark Health and Extended Care Facility 65 Jay Street Newark, NJ (973) ORANGE The Pope John Paul II Pavilion at St. Mary s Life Center 135 South Center Street Orange, NJ (973) White House Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center 560 Berkeley Avenue Orange, NJ (973) WEST CALDWELL Lutheran Social Ministries at Crane s Mill 459 Passaic Avenue West Caldwell, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 20

22 NURSING HOMES Essex County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT WEST CALDWELL (continued) West Caldwell Care Center 165 Fairfield Ave West Caldwell, NJ (973) WEST ORANGE Daughters of Israel Pleasant Valley Home 1155 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, NJ (973) Green Hill 103 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, NJ (973) St. Cloud Health Care Center 5 Brook End Drive West Orange, NJ (973) Stratford Manor Care and Rehabilitation Center 787 Northfield Avenue West Orange, NJ (973) Summit Ridge Center 20 Summit Street West Orange, NJ (973) NURSING HOMES Hudson County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BAYONNE Bayonne Hospital Center Transitional Care Unit 29 East 29 th Street Bayonne, NJ (201) WanderGuard or Similar System 21

23 NURSING HOMES Hudson County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT GUTTENBURG Palisade Nursing Center 6819 Boulevard East Guttenberg, NJ (201) JERSEY CITY Hamilton Park Health Care Center 525 Monmouth Street Jersey City, NJ (201) Harbor View Health Care Center Ogden Avenue Jersey City, NJ (201) Liberty House Nursing Home of Jersey City 620 Montgomery Street Jersey City, NJ (201) Margaret Anna Cusack Care Center 537 Pavonia Avenue Jersey City, NJ (201) Newport Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 198 Stevens Avenue Jersey City, NJ (201) St. Ann s Home For The Aged 198 Old Bergen Road Jersey City, NJ KEARNY Belgrove Post Acute Care Center 195 Belgrove Drive Kearny, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 22

24 NURSING HOMES Hudson County (continued) KEARNY (continued) West Hudson Post Acute Care Center 206 Bergen Avenue Kearny, NJ (201) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT NORTH BERGEN Fritz Reuter Altenheim 3161 Kennedy Boulevard North Bergen, NJ (201) Harborage 7600 River Road North Bergen, NJ (201) Hudson View Care & Rehabilitation Center 9020 Wall Street North Bergen, NJ (201) SECAUCUS Hudson Manor Health Care Center 595 County Avenue Secaucus, NJ (201) Union City Castle Hill Health Care Center rd Street Union City, NJ (201) Manhattanview Nursing Home 3200 Hudson Avenue Union City, NJ (201) WanderGuard or Similar System 23

25 NURSING HOMES Hunterdon County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT CALIFON Little Brook Nursing and Convalescent Home 78 Sliker Road Califon, NJ (908) FLEMINGTON Hunterdon Care Center 1 Leisure Court Flemington, NJ (908) FRENCHTOWN Valley View Health Care Center 117 County Road 513 Frenchtown, NJ (908) LEBANON Rolling Hills Care Center 16 Cratetown Road Lebanon, NJ (908) PITTSTOWN Country Arch Care Center 114 Pittstown Road Pittstown, NJ (908) NURSING HOMES Middlesex County CRANBURY The Elms of Cranbury 61 Maplewood Avenue Cranbury, NJ (609) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT EAST BRUNSWICK Care One at East Brunswick 599 Cranbury Road East Brunswick, NJ (732) WanderGuard or Similar System 24

26 NURSING HOMES Middlesex County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT EDISON Brighton Gardens of Edison 1801 Oak Tree Road Edison, NJ (732) Care One at the Highlands 1350 Inman Avenue Edison, NJ (908) JFK Hartwyck at Oak Tree 2048 Oak Tree Road Edison, NJ (732) New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home, Menlo Park 132 Evergreen Road Edison, NJ (732) Roosevelt Care Center One Roosevelt Drive Edison, NJ (732) MONMOUTH JUNCTION Park Place Center 2 Deer Park Drive Monmouth Junction, NJ (732) MONROE TOWNSHIP Cranbury Center 292 Applegarth Road Monroe Township, NJ (609) WanderGuard or Similar System 25

27 NURSING HOMES Middlesex County (continued) MONROE TOWNSHIP (continued) The Gardens at Monroe Healthcare and Rehabilitation 189 Applegarth Road Monroe Township, NJ (609) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT Monroe Village Health Care Center One David Brainerd Drive Monroe Township, NJ (732) NEW BRUNSWICK Francis E. Parker Memorial Home, Parker at Landing Lane 501 Easton Avenue New Brunswick, NJ (732) Rose Mountain Care Center US Routes 1 & 18 New Brunswick, NJ (732) OLD BRIDGE Golden LivingCenter-Old Bridge 6989 Route 18 South Old Bridge, NJ (732) Reformed Church Home 1990 Route 18 North Old Bridge, NJ (732) Roosevelt Care Center at Old Bridge 1133 Marlboro Road Old Bridge, NJ (732) Summer Hill Nursing Home 111 Route 516 Old Bridge, NJ (732) WanderGuard or Similar System 26

28 NURSING HOMES Middlesex County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT PERTH AMBOY Amboy Care Center 1 Lindberg Avenue Perth Amboy, NJ (732) AristaCare at Alameda Center 303 Elm Street Perth Amboy, NJ (732) PISCATAWAY Francis E. Parker Memorial Home, Parker at River Road 1421 River Road Piscataway, NJ (732) PLAINSBORO Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center 100 Plainsboro Road Plainsboro, NJ (609) SOUTH AMBOY The Briarwood Care & Rehabilitation Center 901 Ernston Road South Amboy, NJ (732) SOUTH PLAINFIELD AristaCare at Cedar Oaks 1311 Durham Avenue South Plainfield, NJ (732) WOODBRIDGE St. Joseph s Senior Home, Nursing Center 1-3 St. Joseph s Terrace Woodbridge, NJ (732) WanderGuard or Similar System 27

29 NURSING HOMES Morris County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BOONTON Merry Heart of Boonton Township 199 Powerville Road Boonton, NJ (973) New Jersey Firemen s Home 565 Lathrop Avenue Boonton, NJ (973) CHATHAM Garden Terrace Nursing Home 361 Main Street Chatham, NJ (973) King James Care Center of Chatham 415 Southern Blvd Chatham, NJ (973) DENVILLE Franciscan Oaks Health Center 21 Pocono Road Denville, NJ (973) DOVER The Dwelling Place at Saint Clare s 400 West Blackwell Street Dover, NJ (973) Regency Grande Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 65 North Sussex Street Dover, NJ (973) FLORHAM PARK Cheshire Home 9 Ridgedale Avenue Florham Park, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 28

30 NURSING HOMES Morris County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT FLORHAM PARK (continued) Saint Anne Villa 190 Park Avenue Florham Park, NJ (973) HACKETTSTOWN Heath Village 430 Schooley s Mountain Road Hackettstown, NJ (908) LINCOLN PARK Lincoln Park Renaissance Rehab & Nursing Center 521 Pine Brook Road Lincoln Park, NJ (973) MENDHAM Holly Manor Center 84 Cold Hill Road Mendham, NJ (973) MADISON Pine Acres Convalescent Center 51 Madison Ave Madison, NJ (973) MORRIS PLAINS Morris View Healthcare Center 540 West Hanover Avenue Morris Plains, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 29

31 NURSING HOMES Morris County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT MORRISTOWN Care One At Madison Avenue 151 Madison Avenue Morristown, NJ (973) Morris Hills Center 77 Madison Avenue Morristown, NJ (973) PARSIPPANY Care One at Morris 100 Mazdabrook Road Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ (973) Troy Hills Center 200 Reynolds Avenue Parsippany, NJ (973) POMPTON PLAINS Cedar Crest Village/Renaissance Gardens (Long Term Care) 4 Cedar Crest Village Drive Pompton Plains, NJ (973) SUCCASUNNA Merry Heart Nursing Home 200 Rt 10 West Succasunna, NJ (973) WHIPPANY CareOne at Hanover Township 101 Whippany Road Whippany, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 30

32 NURSING HOMES Passaic County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BLOOMINGDALE The Health Center At Bloomingdale 255 Union Avenue Bloomingdale, NJ (973) CLIFTON Daughters Of Miriam Center 155 Hazel Street Clifton, NJ (973) HASKELL Lakeland Health Care Center 25 Fifth Avenue Haskell, NJ (973) Wanaque Convalescent Center 1433 Ringwood Avenue Haskell, NJ (973) NORTH HALEDON Holland Christian Home 151 Graham Avenue North Haledon, NJ (973) PASSAIC Chestnut Hill Convalescent Center 360 Chestnut Street Passaic, NJ (973) Hamilton Plaza Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 56 Hamilton Avenue Passaic, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 31

33 NURSING HOMES Passaic County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT PATERSON Doctors Subacute Care 59 Birch Street Paterson, NJ (973) Riverview Post-Acute Care Center 77 East 43 rd Street Paterson, NJ (973) TOTOWA St. Joseph s Home For Elderly 140 Shepherd Lane Totowa, NJ (973) WAYNE Care One at Wayne (Skilled Nursing Facility) 493 Black Oak Ridge Road Wayne, NJ (973) Lakeview Subacute Care Center 130 Terhune Drive Wayne, NJ (973) Llanfair House Care & Rehabilitation Center 1140 Black Oak Ridge Road Wayne, NJ (973) Oak Ridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 261 Terhune Drive Wayne, NJ (973) WanderGuard or Similar System 32

34 NURSING HOMES Passaic County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT WAYNE (continued) Preakness Healthcare Center 305 Oldham Road Wayne, NJ (973) Regency Gardens Nursing Center 296 Hamburg Turnpike Wayne, NJ (973) The Atrium At Wayne Subacute & Rehabilitation 1120 Alps Road Wayne, NJ (973) Wayne View Care Center 2020 Rt 23 North Wayne, NJ (973) WEST MILFORD Milford Manor 69 Maple Road West Milford, (973) NURSING HOMES Somerset County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BASKING RIDGE Fellowship Village 8000 Fellowship Drive Basking Ridge, NJ (908) BOUND BROOK Somerset Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 1621 Route 22 West Bound Brook, NJ (732) WanderGuard or Similar System 33

35 NURSING HOMES Somerset County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BRIDGEWATER Bridgeway Care Center 270 Route 28 Bridgewater, NJ (908) Green Knoll Care and Rehabilitation Center 875 Route North Bridgewater, NJ (908) Friends Retirement Concepts, Arbor Glen 100 Monroe Street Bridgewater, NJ (908) N.J. Eastern Star Home, Inc. 111 Finderne Avenue Bridgewater, NJ (908) FRANKLIN PARK Franklin Care Center 3371 Route 27 Franklin Park, NJ (732) GREEN BROOK Greenbrook Manor Care & Rehabilitation Center 303 Rock Avenue Green Brook, NJ (732) HILLSBOROUGH Bridgeway Care & Rehabilitation Center at Hillsborough 395 Amwell Road Hillsborough, NJ (908) WanderGuard or Similar System 34

36 NURSING HOMES Somerset County (continued) HILLSBOROUGH (continued) Foothill Acres Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 39 East Mountain Road Hillsborough, NJ (908) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT RARITAN Raritan Health & Extended Care 633 Route 28 Raritan, NJ (908) SKILLMAN Stonebridge At Montgomery Health Care Center 300 Hollinshead Spring Road Skillman, NJ (609) SOMERSET Margaret McLaughlin McCarrick Care Center 15 Dellwood Lane Somerset, NJ (732) Regency Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 380 Demott Lane Somerset, NJ (732) Willow Creek Rehabilitation and Care Center 1165 Easton Avenue Somerset, NJ (732) WATCHUNG McAuley Hall Health Care Center 1633 Highway 22 Watchung, NJ (908) WanderGuard or Similar System 35

37 NURSING HOMES Sussex County ANDOVER Andover Subacute & Rehabilitation I 1 O Brien Lane Andover, NJ (973) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT Andover Subacute & Rehabilitation II 99 Mulford Road Andover, NJ (973) NEWTON Barn Hill Care Center 249 High Sreet Newton, NJ (973) Bristol Glen (SNF) 200 Bristol Glen Drive Newton, NJ (973) Sussex County Homestead 129 Morris Turnpike Newton, NJ (973) Valley View Care Center 1 Summit Avenue Newton, NJ (973) NURSING HOMES Union County BERKELEY HEIGHTS Berkeley Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 35 Cottage Street Berkeley Heights, NJ (908) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT WanderGuard or Similar System 36

38 NURSING HOMES Union County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT BERKELEY HEIGHTS (continued) Berkeley Meadows 311 Springfield Avenue Berkeley Heights, NJ (908) Runnells Specialized Hospital 40 Watchung Way Berkeley Heights, NJ (908) CLARK Clark Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 1213 Westfield Avenue Clark, NJ (732) CRANFORD Cranford Hall Inc 600 Lincoln Park East Cranford, NJ (908) Cranford Health and Extended Care Center 205 Birchwood Avenue Cranford, NJ (908) ELIZABETH Brother Bonaventure Extended Care and Rehabilitation Center 655 East Jersey Street Elizabeth, NJ (908) Elizabeth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 1048 Grove Street Elizabeth, NJ (908) WanderGuard or Similar System 37

39 NURSING HOMES Union County (continued) ELIZABETH (continued) Elmora Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center 225 W Jersey Street Elizabeth, NJ (908) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT Plaza Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center 456 Rahway Avenue Elizabeth, NJ (908) LINDEN Delaire Nursing & Convalescent Center 400 W Stimpson Avenue Linden, NJ (908) MOUNTAINSIDE ManorCare Health Services - Mountainside 1180 Route 22 West Mountainside, NJ (908) NEW PROVIDENCE ManorCare Health Services - New Providence 144 Gales Drive New Providence, NJ (908) PLAINFIELD AristaCare at Norwood Terrace 40 Norwood Avenue Plainfield, NJ (908) JFK Hartwyck At Cedar Brook 1340 Park Ave Plainfield, NJ (908) WanderGuard or Similar System 38

40 NURSING HOMES Union County (continued) MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT PLAINFIELD (continued) The Woodlands 1400 Woodland Avenue Plainfield, NJ (908) RAHWAY Riverton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 1777 Lawrence Street Rahway, NJ (732) Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway 865 Stone Street Rahway, NJ (732) SCOTCH PLAINS Ashbrook Care and Rehabilitation Center 1610 Raritan Road Scotch Plains, NJ (908) UNION Cornell Hall Care And Rehabilitation Center 234 Chestnut Street Union, NJ (908) VAUHALL South Mountain Healthcare & Rehabilitation 2385 Springfield Avenue Vauxhall, NJ (908) WESTFIELD Westfield Center 1515 Lamberts Mill Road Westfield, NJ (908) WanderGuard or Similar System 39

41 NURSING HOMES Warren County MEDICARE MEDICAID ALZHEIMER S UNIT COLUMBIA Clover Rest Home 28 Washington Street Columbia, NJ (908) HACKETTSTOWN House Of The Good Shepherd 798 Willow Grove Street Hackettstown, NJ (908) HOPE Forest Manor Health Care Center 145 State Park Road Hope, NJ (908) OFORD Warren Haven 350 Oxford Road Oxford, NJ (908) PHILLIPSBURG Brakeley Park Center 290 Red School Lane Phillipsburg, NJ (908) Lopatcong Center 390 Red School Lane Phillipsburg, NJ (908) Phillipsburg Center 843 Wilbur Avenue Phillipsburg, NJ (908) WanderGuard or Similar System 40

42 Division of Assets and Medicaid Planning. How to Pay for Nursing Home Care Without Going Broke One of the biggest concerns people have about nursing home care is how to pay for that care. There are basically five ways that you can pay the cost of a nursing home: 1. Long Term Care Insurance - If you are fortunate enough to have this type of coverage, it may go a long way toward paying the cost of the nursing home. Unfortunately, there have been many changes in the long-term care insurance industry in the last few years and most people facing a nursing home stay do not have this coverage. 2. Pay with Your Own Funds - This is the method many people are required to use at first. Quite simply, it means paying for the cost of a nursing home out of your own pocket. Unfortunately, with nursing home bills averaging approximately $10,000 per month or more in our area, few people can afford a long-term stay in a nursing home. 3. Veterans Administration The United States Veterans Administration operates over 100 nursing facilities. Nursing home care is provided without cost to Veterans with service-connected disabilities. For other Veterans there are eligibility factors, including an income limit. The New Jersey Veterans Administration operates 3 homes for New Jersey Veterans and their families. Eligibility requirements vary for Veterans, their spouses and parents. 4. Medicare - This is the national health insurance program primarily for people 65 years of age and older, certain younger disabled people, and people with kidney failure. Medicare provides short-term assistance with nursing home costs, but only if you meet the strict qualification rules. 5. Medicaid - This is a federal and state funded and state administered medical benefit program which can pay for the cost of the nursing home if certain asset and income tests are met. Since the first two methods of private pay (i.e. using your own funds and long term care insurance) are self-explanatory and the third method is only available to a small segment of the population, our discussion will concentrate on Medicare and Medicaid. What About Medicare? There is a great deal of confusion about Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is the federally funded and state administered health insurance program primarily designed for older individuals (i.e. those over age 65). There are some limited long-term care benefits that can be available under Medicare. In general, if you are enrolled in the traditional Medicare plan, and you ve had a hospital stay of at least three days, and then you are admitted into a skilled nursing facility (often for rehabilitation or 41

43 skilled nursing care), Medicare may pay for a while. (If you are a Medicare Managed Care Plan beneficiary, a three-day hospital stay may not be required to qualify.) If you qualify, traditional Medicare may pay the full cost of the nursing home stay for the first 20 days and can continue to pay the cost of the nursing home stay for the next 80 days, but with a deductible that s $ per day. Some Medicare supplemental insurance policies will pay the cost of that deductible. For Medicare Managed Care Plan enrollees, there is no deductible for days 21 through 100, as long as the strict qualifying rules continue to be met. So, in the best-case scenario, the traditional Medicare or the Medicare Managed Care Plan may pay up to 100 days for each spell of illness. In order to qualify for this 100 days of coverage, however, the nursing home resident must be receiving daily skilled care and generally must continue to improve. (Note: Once the Medicare and Managed Care beneficiary has not received a Medicare covered level of care for 60 consecutive days, the beneficiary may again be eligible for the 100 days of skilled nursing coverage for the next spell of illness.) While it s never possible to predict at the outset how long Medicare will cover the rehabilitation, from our experience, it usually falls far short of the 100 day maximum. Even if Medicare does cover the 100 day period, what then? What happens after the 100 days of coverage have been used? At that point, in either case you re back to one of the other alternatives...long term care insurance, paying the bills with your own assets, or qualifying for Medicaid. What is Medicaid? Medicaid is a benefits program which is primarily funded by the federal government and administered by each state. This means that the Medicaid rules can, and do, vary from state to state. The information in this guide deals only with New Jersey s Medicaid program. One primary benefit of Medicaid is that, unlike Medicare (which only pays for skilled nursing), the Medicaid program will pay for long term care in a nursing home once you ve qualified. Medicare does not pay for treatment for all diseases or conditions. For example, a long-term stay in a nursing home may be caused by Alzheimer s or Parkinson s disease, and even though the patient receives medical care, the treatment will not be paid for by Medicare. These stays are called custodial nursing stays. Medicare does not pay for custodial nursing home stays. In that instance, you ll either have to pay privately (i.e. use long term care insurance or your own funds), or you ll have to qualify for Medicaid. New Jersey's Medicaid Programs New Jersey has two programs that pay for nursing home care, "Medicaid Only" and "Medically Needy". Medicaid Only has broader coverage than Medically Needy, which does not cover in-patient hospital care, pharmaceuticals outside of the institution, or chiropractic services. The financial requirements of the two programs differ as well. Medicaid Only recipients must have no more than $2094 (in 2012) per month of income. (This number increases a little every year to keep pace with inflation). Those applicants 42

44 with greater income can qualify under the Medically Needy program. If the income limit can be met, the Medicaid Only program is the more desirable one. Why Plan for Medicaid? As life expectancies and long-term care costs continue to rise, the challenge quickly becomes how to pay for these services. Many people cannot afford to pay $10,000 per month or more for the cost of a nursing home, and those who can pay for a little while may find their life savings wiped out in a matter of months, rather than years. Fortunately, the Medicaid Program is there to help. In fact, in our lifetime, Medicaid has become the long-term care insurance of the middle class. But the eligibility to receive Medicaid benefits requires that you pass certain tests on the amount of income and assets that you have. The reasons for Medicaid planning are simple. First, you need to provide enough assets for the security of your loved ones -- they too may have a similar crisis. Second, the rules are extremely complicated and confusing. Not only that, but Medicaid rules are constantly changing, and you need to be correctly informed. Without planning and advice, many people spend more than they should and their family security is jeopardized. Exempt Assets and Countable Assets: What Can you Keep and What is at Risk? To qualify for Medicaid, applicants must pass some fairly strict tests on the amount of assets they can keep. To understand how Medicaid works, we first need to review what are known as exempt (non-countable) and non-exempt (countable) assets. Exempt assets are those, which Medicaid will not take into account (at least for the time being). In general, the following are the primary exempt assets: Home, For a single person, home equity must be less than $787,000. The home must be the principal place of residence. The nursing home resident may be required to show some intent to return home even if this never actually takes place. $2,000 cash or other countable asset. Personal belongings and household goods. One car is totally excluded if necessary for employment or as a means of transportation for medical treatment. Otherwise $4500 of the value of a car is excluded. Medical devices, wheelchairs, prosthetic devices and similar equipment unless others in the household use them as well. Burial spaces and certain related items for applicant and spouse. Up to $1,500 designated as a burial fund for applicant and spouse. Irrevocable prepaid funeral contract. Cash value of life insurance if face value is $1,500 or less. 43

45 All other assets are generally non-exempt, and are countable. Basically, all money and property, and any item that can be valued and turned into cash, is a countable asset unless it is one of those assets listed above as exempt. This includes: Cash, savings, and checking accounts, credit union share and draft accounts. Certificates of deposit. U.S. Savings Bonds. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Keogh plans (401K, 403B). Trusts (depending on the terms of the trust) Real estate (other than the residence). More than one car. While the Medicaid rules themselves are complicated and tricky, it s safe to say that a single person will qualify for Medicaid as long as he/she has only exempt assets plus a small amount of cash and/or money in the bank, up to $2,

46 Some Common Questions I ve added my kids names to our bank account. Do they still count? Yes. The entire amount is counted unless you can prove some or all of the money was contributed by the other person who is on the account. Can t I just Give My Assets Away? Many people wonder, can t I give my assets away? The answer is, generally, No. The law has severe penalties for people who simply give away their assets to create Medicaid eligibility. So even though the federal Gift Tax laws allow you to give away up to $13,000 per year without gift tax consequences, those gifts could result in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid. Though some families do spend virtually all of their savings on nursing home care, Medicaid often does not require it. There are a number of strategies which can be used to protect family financial security. Should I Prepay my Funeral? Generally, yes. We all know that we will pass away eventually. A person on Medicaid can only have $2,000 in countable assets. Certainly, this is not enough to pay for an average funeral. It is usually best to pay for the funeral in advance. It converts countable assets to non-countable assets. But when you prepay your funeral it can make a difference. For a married couple it is usually best to wait until after the person enters the nursing home. This is when, from a Medicaid planning perspective, the couple will get the most benefit in preserving family assets. Medicaid Planning for Married Couples There is more flexibility in Medicaid planning for married couples, as opposed to planning for a single person. The Medicaid law, in effect, recognizes that it makes little sense to impoverish both spouses when only one needs to qualify for Medicaid assistance for nursing home care. As a result of this recognition, the law allows the spouse at home (called the Community Spouse ) to keep a certain amount of countable assets in his/her own name, so as to avoid being impoverished in the community. This amount is called the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). Currently, the CSRA is $113,640 (for 2012). Remember, the nursing home spouse is allowed to keep up to $2,000 in his/her own name. Each state also establishes a monthly income floor for the at-home spouse. This is called the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance. This permits the community spouse to keep a minimum monthly income ranging from about $1,839 to $2,841 (for 2012). 45