Abstract
The elements of a good nursing home are numerous. Among basic procedures in care, Healthy Digest reports that the “overall cleanliness of the home is important” (Seniors Nursing Home Essentials 2011). While most individuals search for a facility that is clean and friendly, quality nursing facilities should offer residents more than a clean restroom and friendly staff. In addition to providing the standard atmosphere, Redondo Nursing Home aspires to exceed average expectations through accessibility and transparency. The nursing center will offer friendly staff, several nutritional plans, and support to family members to make the transition from independent living to assisted living bearable.
The Facility
Redondo Nursing Home is a small facility located in Fremont, California. Certified as a Medicare and Medicaid facility, Redondo has thirty residential rooms and one dining hall. The facility was donated by Sherri and Brandon Richardson upon the death of Aunt Matie Richardson. While half of the residential rooms are reserved for single living, the other half is for double occupancy. Triple occupancy is not available since such living conditions have the potential to lead to sanitation problems. The rooms consist of a living area and restroom. Living areas are composed of bedrooms, televisions, dressers, and lamps. A limited number of hand and bath towels are provided to residents by the facility. Furnishings and towels are provided by a company called Resident Essentials who specialize in nursing home furniture and offers “a variety of nursing home furniture and room furnishings perfect for any nursing home”.
While there is no rent or mortgage associated with the building, commercial insurance averages around $1,200 per year. Additional liability insurance for residents costs $2,000 per month. Whereas commercial insurance covers damages to the building associated with natural and human disasters, liability insurance enables Redondo to pay for financial costs associated with a resident falling or choking on food. Redondo Nursing Home strives to provide a safe atmosphere that is both welcoming and cozy.
The Position of the Planner
Living in an assisted living facility is difficult for many elderly individuals. According to the University Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell.
“for many older adults, planning to live in a nursing home can be too difficult to even think about. It may conjure up many emotions–helplessness because you no longer can care for yourself, possibly having to leave your home and security, or fear due to an uncertain future” (Planning for Nursing Home Care 2006).
Many individuals choose not to plan for assisted living even when their health deteriorates to the point of needing special care. While they are fully aware of their medical situation, such individuals would rather stay in the comfort zone that is their home than explore alternative ways of living that may prove disastrous.
With complete awareness of the emotions involved with relocating, Redondo aspires to make the transition easier with a specialized planner. The planner essentially consults with potential residents and family members to discuss care plans and other options available to seniors and their families. On average, a meeting between the planner and family will be one to two hours and cover everything from room selections to meal plans. While the potential resident and family members are expected to disclose all information pertaining to medical conditions, the planner is required to provide a complete description of the home. Such description should include information pertaining to staffing, nutritional menus, and the overall atmosphere of the home. Potential residents and family members should essentially leave the center with a complete understanding of daily practices. Providing such transparency is the key element that sets Redondo apart from other nursing homes in the business.
Since the planner is essentially the first professional contact that the potential resident will meet, it is important that this individual be formally educated and have strong customer service skills. Planners are therefore required to furnish proof of a masters degree in psychology from a regionally accredited university before being hired. In addition, individuals must have experience working with the public in the realm of social worker or a closely related field. Persons having extensive experience working in a nursing home as a receptionist or administrative assistant are considered; the experience, however, must be for at least five years. Establishing such stringent employment qualifications ensures that an educated individual is selected who is capable of properly executing the job.
A high level of skill expectation inevitably warrants a large salary. While the planner is not given six figures, he or she is compensated through a combination of salary and incentives. The planner position pays $40,000 per year plus medical benefits, thirteen days paid vacation, and ten days paid sick leave. The planner works along with the administrator to make daily operations successful. He or she essentially serves as second in command in the absence of the administrator. Planners also organize activities as well as physician and dental visits.
Other Positions
The administrator is responsible for all business and residential activities throughout the day. Although the planner is the central contact with families, potential residents, and business professionals, the administrator is responsible for approving all activities and changes within the nursing home. Prior to admitting an individual, the administrator must review the file and determine if the candidate would be a good fit for Redondo and vice versa. After admitting the person, the administrator must ensure that payment is secure through installments or full restitution of debt. He or she is also responsible for maintaining the budget and ensuring that all bills are paid in a timely manner.
Since a lot of time and effort is required, the administrator is compensated with $60,000 annually. He or she is also given medical benefits as well as sick leave and paid vacation. The administrator is expected to be accessible twenty four hours per day by telephone or email in the instance that an emergency arises that the nurses and other staff are unable to resolve. The administrative position requires a masters degree in business administration and at least seven years of experience in an authoritative role. At least five of those seven years must have been in a nursing home or similar facility and two of those years must have been in management. The administrator is a vital role at Redondo and individuals filling it must be capable of handling various tasks.
Aside from administrative and planning positions, other staff include nurses, nursing assistants, receptionists, cooks, and maintenance personnel. The facility has three nurses with five assistants, and two receptionists. While nurses and maintenance personnel are full time employees with benefits, nursing assistants and receptionists are part time employees who do not receive additional incentives outside of financial compensation. Kitchen cooks are employed on a temporary basis and are scheduled to work less than twenty hours per week. Similar to receptionists, kitchen workers do not receive incentives outside of hourly compensation. There are two kitchen cooks and three maintenance personnel. All positions outside of administrator and planner are hourly positions. Since hiring the right employee is vital to the survival of a company, Redondo is the sole employer of all employees. The facility does not utilize temporary agencies or other staffing solutions during the employment process.
Although they are not given a salary, support staff are provided with fair compensation. Receptionists are given $12.00 per hour, and kitchen staff are compensated with an hourly rate of $9.00. Nurses are paid $27.00 per hour and their assistants are given $15.00 hourly. Maintenance staff are paid $10.00 per hour.
Residential costs and payment plans
Forbes magazine reports that the average nursing home facility “will eat $130,000 to $145,000 per room in start-up costs-or about $11 million for an average-sized location with 80 units” (Fundamentals of Running a Senior Living Home 2007). In order to balance annual budgets, these facilities typically charge high residential rates and do not provide additional assistance or care without additional financing. Since Redondo is smaller than the average nursing home facility, it is enabled to provide specialized care at a reasonable cost.
Residential rooms at Redondo cost $3,000 per month for single occupancy and $1,500 for double occupancy. Included in this price are nutritional meals and medical care. Bed-ridden individuals who require twenty four hour personalized assistance will be billed an additional $500 per month. At Redondo, personalized assistance is defined as individuals who requires help when using the restroom, eating, and clothing themselves. Such persons would essentially need a staff member in their room all day. Double occupancy is not available to individuals needing personalized assistance.
Although $1,500 to $3,000 per month sounds expensive, Redondo accepts several methods of payment that can substantially reduce or even eliminate out of pocket expenses. As a certified Medicare and Medicaid facility, Redondo accepts government insurance policies as a method of payment. Instead of being expected to pay the entire $3,000 per month, an individual living in a single occupancy room may only be charged a quarter of the rent while the government covers the remaining debt. Redondo also accepts private insurance policies that may cover some or all costs associated with residency.
While family contributions are common among most residents, there are several ways for individuals to pay. Aside from making an annual payment of $36,000 for single occupancy and $18,000 for double, individuals can make monthly installments to cover the balance. While information pertaining to one’s financial institution is not required when making an annual payment, registering for installment plans require electronic checks. Individuals may select the day that they would like to make payment and Redondo will withdraw the rental amount from the bank account. If the insurance company has paid for a fraction of the room, Redondo will withdraw the remaining balance.
Even though Redondo is known for its friendly atmosphere, individuals failing to pay monthly rates will be subject to eviction. Prior to evicting a tenant, the administrator must do everything within his or her authority to rectify debt. This often means contacting family members and informing residents of government programs that they may be eligible for. All residents are given thirty days notice before official eviction, and an additional fifteen days to vacate the premises after eviction has taken place. Prior to receiving a thirty day notice, a tenant in danger of being evicted will be notified of default. It is then dependent on the tenant to respond or vacate. Individuals who respond to default notices in a timely manner are typically spared the embarrassment of eviction, while persons procrastinating are asked to leave. Redondo Nursing Home does everything within its power to prevent evictions but requires the cooperation of all residents and family members in preventing such action.
References
Cloutier, Lise. (2011). Seniors Nursing Home Essentials. Health News Digest. Web.
Nelson, Brett. (2007). The Fundamentals of Running a Senior Living Home. Forbes.com.Web.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital. (2006). Planning for Nursing Home Care. Web.
Annual Budget
Monthly Budget
