Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the application process?
A. The first step is to contact The Friendly Home’s Admissions Office by calling (585) 385-0271. This provides the opportunity to discuss your specific situation with our Admissions Team. The course of our application process depends on whether you are applying from the community (i.e., home, assisted living facility) or from a hospital.
Next, The Friendly Home’s Admission Application must be completed and submitted; this can be done on-line by clicking here, or you can print out the application, complete it and send it to The Friendly Home by fax at (585) 385-0225 or mail.
In addition, medical information will be required from your primary care physician. If you are applying for admission from home, a Release of Health Information Form must be submitted which grants The Friendly Home permission to obtain pertinent medical information from your doctor. If you are applying for admission from the hospital, your medical information will be sent upon request to The Friendly Home by the hospital’s social worker/discharge planner.
Prior to admission to The Friendly Home, a Patient Review Instrument (PRI) will need to be completed. A PRI is a New York State required health assessment. If you are applying for admission from home, a PRI may be conducted by a local nursing agency, including Friendly Senior Services affiliate Traditions In Caring. If you are applying for admission from a hospital, this paperwork will be completed by a hospital social worker/discharge planner. In either case, the completed PRI should be submitted to The Friendly Home by fax at 585-385-0225 or mail.
The Home’s Placement Committee will review the completed documentation (Admission Application, PRI, financial and medical information) and follow up with you within 24 hours of receipt.
Q. How do I pay for nursing home care?
A. Individuals coming to The Friendly Home must have an approved payment source. These sources include: private resources, Medicare, approved Medicaid status, or long-term care insurance. Please note that Medicaid pending status is not an approved payment source.
Q. Will Medicare pay for long-term care?
A. 100 days of long-term care coverage are available but not necessarily guaranteed from Medicare. You must meet Medicare guidelines to be covered. Technical eligibility requires that you have a three-day hospital stay within 30 days prior to your admission to The Friendly Home. If you have used any of your 100 days of Medicare coverage in a nursing facility within the past 60 days, these days will be deducted from your 100 days of coverage.
If you are covered by Medicare, days 1-20 are paid in full. Days 21-100 are co-payment days. The Friendly Home’s current Medicare co-payment is $124.00 per day. A secondary insurance may contribute to this co-payment.
Custodial care is not covered by Medicare at any level of care. Custodial care is routine care for activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, toileting, etc.
Q. How does The Friendly Home compare to other local nursing homes in terms of cost?
A. The Friendly Home is a non-profit, mission-driven organization. As such, all proceeds (“profits”) are invested back into the Home to maintain and enhance the exceptional quality of care and services we provide. The Friendly Home provides outstanding value, and our costs are comparable with other nursing homes in the community.
Q. Can I see my own doctor at The Friendly Home?
A. Yes, if your physician is willing to do so and can meet the standards for the facility. Your physician should contact the medical staff office at 385-0206 and request an application.
Q. Can I request a private room?
A. Based on availability, applicants with the ability to pay privately may request a private room. Please note that Medicaid does not cover the cost of a private room and that families or other sources may not make up the difference in cost for a private room.
Q. How many medical professionals are on staff at The Friendly Home?
A. The Friendly Home has a Medical Director, Assistant Medical Director and Attending Physician on staff; all are board-certified in internal medicine. Also on staff are two licensed and certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioners. They have extensive training in the diagnosis and management of diseases and other medical problems.
Each of The Friendly Home’s nursing units is supervised by a Nurse Manager (Registered Nurse) in addition to an Assistant Nurse Manager or Clinical Coordinator. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and a unit secretary complete the nursing staff on each unit. An RN Supervisor is always on-site at The Friendly Home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Friendly Home is proud to maintain a staffing plan which exceeds local averages of ratios of RNs, LPNs and CNAs to Members. Moreover, the Home practices Primary Care Nursing, which strives to ensure that Members are cared for by the same nurses and assistants as much and as often as possible. This fosters a sense of comfort and familiarity for Members, and enables our nursing staff to provide better, more effective care.
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