Frequently Asked Questions - LONG-TERM CARE:

Do people have to be Catholic to be admitted to Maristhill?

No. Maristhill embraces people of all denominations. In fact, our pastoral care department conducts “spiritual assessments” on all residents in order to identify their preferences and to support them in practicing their faith of choice or, simply, providing emotional support when needed.

How much clothing should I bring in?

Make sure to bring enough clothing to allow for laundry service (4-6 of each item such as slacks, tops, and undergarments will do). Laundry is picked up daily in the rooms, unless family elects to do it themselves. Please do not bring any delicate fabrics as they will not survive our industrial machines! It is important that each item be labeled with the patient’s last name. Indelible ink markers can be borrowed at the nurse’s desk.

Do I need to bring in Incontinence Pads for the resident?

No, Maristhill provides incontinence pads. However, some patients/families have a preferred brand of incontinence pad. In this case, the brand name pads must be supplied by the resident/family.

If the resident is sick, will the physician come in to see them?

If the illness is acute, the resident is transferred to the hospital. Otherwise, making an on-site visit is up to the discretion of the resident’s Physician/Nurse Practitioner.

When does the Physician see the resident and how often?

All new residents are seen and evaluated by the Physician/Nurse Practioner within 48 hours of admission. Residents are then seen monthly for the first three months and quarterly thereafter. The Maristhill nursing staff is also in contact by phone with the Physician/Nurse practitioners on a regular basis, notifying them of any significant changes in the resident’s medical condition and obtaining approval for any/all treatments/medication changes.

How will you know what medications to give the resident? Do we need to bring in a list?

If the resident is being admitted from a hospital, they will be accompanied by paperwork from the hospital, listing all current medications and doses. The hospital also sends a discharge summary signed by the hospital physician, summarizing the resident’s hospital course. If the resident is being admitted to Maristhill from home the family does need to bring their own list of current medications and doses, preferably signed by the resident’s community physician.

What if my family member has a problem with his/her roommate?

Maristhill makes every effort to place residents with compatible roommates. However, there are occasions when the placement is not a good fit. In such cases, the social worker will meet with the resident/family to come up with a solution which may involve a room change.

Frequently Asked Questions - REHAB / SHORT-TERM CARE

When and how often will the resident be seen for rehab?

Our rehabilitation team conducts a full evaluation the day after the patient is admitted. Treatment begins the following day and continues according to the physician’s orders. The frequency of visits is dictated by the physician’s order, but typically an order calls for a session each of physical therapy and occupational therapy six days per week. A typical session lasts 45-50 minutes. The frequency and duration of rehab services is usually based on what patients can tolerate.

How long will the rehab last?

No one can predict exactly how long the rehabilitation will take as it depends on the patient’s physical/medical condition. Patients can require anywhere between a week to three month’s of rehabilitation. Medicare only covers skilled rehab services while the patient is showing concrete gains in functioning. For example, if a patient is able to walk five feet with a walker one day, he must demonstrate the ability to walk more than five feet in the next few days or else he is considered to have “plateaued,” in which case Medicare discontinues coverage for rehabilitation. However, short-term patients are often ready to return home once they have “plateaued.”

Do I need to bring clothing in?

Yes. Comfortable, loose clothing and supportive shoes (such as joggers or walking shoes) for rehabilitation are most important. Make sure to bring enough clothing to allow for laundry service (usually 4-6 of each item such as slacks, tops, and undergarments). Laundry is done daily. Please be sure the patient’s last name is in all clothing; indelible ink markers can be borrowed from the nurse’s desk.

When does the Physician see the resident and how often?

All new patients are seen and evaluated by the Physician/Nurse Practioner within 48 hours of admission. Residents are then seen monthly for the first three months and quarterly thereafter. The Maristhill nursing staff is also in contact by phone with the Physician/Nurse practitioners on a regular basis, notifying them of any significant changes in the patient’s medical condition and obtaining approval for any/all treatments/medication changes.

How does the discharge work?

Do we have to arrange for services and transportation? No. Your social worker and the nurse manager will arrange for services and transportation. Prior to discharge, they will also have a meeting with the patient and family to discuss discharge needs and to schedule the date and time of discharge.