WHAT AN ADVOCATE SHOULD KNOW Facilities in the Immediate Community What kind of facilities are they? What level of care do they provide? Do they participate in Medicaid or Medicare programs? Who lives there? The very old and very ill? Young people? Mentally ill? Disabled? How many beds does each facility have? What kinds of special programs does the facility offer? Rehabilitation? Community interaction? Physical therapy? Mental health services? Resident council? Family council? Does the facility provide the services that it advertises in brochures, telephone books, and the newspaper? Does the facility have a dementia special care unit? If so, what makes the unit “special”? What is the general atmosphere of the facility? Warm, friendly, active? Cold, quiet, sterile? Which facilities offer special model programs that could be duplicated by others? Which facilities encourage the public to visit and help? What kind of training is provided for the nursing assistants? conditions for workers?
How are the working
How does the facility measure up in meeting standards? What do inspection reports say about conditions? Regulations for Facilities What are the regulations and state licensure standards for nursing homes and assisted living facilities? Regulatory Agencies What state agencies have jurisdiction over facilities, e.g., Licensing and Certification and the Assisted Living Homes Licensing?
The Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid programs What benefits do they offer? What types of facilities do they certify?