Planning for Nursing Home Care in Johnson County

Planning ahead for nursing home care gives you more control over the selection process, eases the stress of choosing a nursing home, and helps you make a good choice. Take these steps to simplify the process:

1) Talk to people you trust who can help you make a good decision: family, friends, and health professionals such as doctors, social workers, and hospital discharge planners. Plan for a time when you might not be alert or able to communicate well and share your values and preferences with someone. Set up powers-of-attorney for someone to act in your behalf in these circumstances. Couples may want to discuss dividing assets and income in order to protect the healthier spouse’s income if he or she remains at home. Contact Kansas Legal Services at 913-621-0200 for legal assistance provided on a donation basis.

2) Look at the options: If you are considering nursing home care in Johnson County, you may schedule a CARE assessment by calling 715-8857. This assessment is designed to consider a person’s need for nursing facility placement and alternate options for assistance. For an overview of these options, you may call an Aging Information Specialist at 913-715-8861.

3) Gather information: Gather information about the nursing facilities in the area you would like to live…usually near family and friends.

a) Aging Information at 913-715-8861 can provide you with lists of homes, and general publications about choosing a facility, and information about the legal and financial issues involved.

b) Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC) publishes a Consumer’s Guide to Kansas Nursing Homes, FIND Fact Sheets on Individual Nursing Homes covering state enforcement actions, occupancy rates, hours of licensed nursing care, staffing ratios, and more…available for a nominal fee. KABC advocates for quality long term care in Kansas and provides consumer information on choosing a home, rights, care standards, negotiating problems, reporting neglect or abuse, and legislative action to improve care. Contact KABC at 1-800-525-1782.

c) Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program for Johnson County. A regional ombudsman and a group of volunteer ombudsmen (men and women) visit nursing homes on a regular basis to advocate for resident rights, investigate complaints, and to solve and mediate problems. Ombudsmen cannot recommend a facility, but they can provide results of the latest State inspection and some information about a home’s complaint history. They can also answer questions about Medicaid coverage, resident rights, and transfer or discharge issues. Call 913-826-7474.

d) The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is the regulatory agency for Kansas nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult care homes. To report abuse or neglect in a facility call KDHE at 1-800-842-0078. They publish the inspection reports for Kansas facilities. Call 1-785-296-0133 for information about these reports or regulatory issues.

e) Call and visit the nursing facility directly for the best information.

4) Evaluate Factors: This is a very important step in narrowing down selections. Consider:

a) Location near family and friends…one of the most important factors for good care and easing feelings of loneliness.

b) Availability…there are limited numbers of beds, limitations to special kinds of care, and sometimes waiting lists for select facilities.

c) Staffing…skill levels, training, and number of staff is important.

d) Medicaid…How many beds are available for care covered by Medicaid when private pay funds are used up?

5) Paying for care: Medicare covers care for limited periods of time under limited conditions. For Medicare information call 1-800-772-1213. Medicaid covers individuals for ongoing nursing facility care when their income is very low and resources are limited. For information and an application call the Kansas Dept of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) at 913-826-7300. Besides personal resources, Medicare supplemental insurance and long-term care insurance plans may help pay for care. For more information, contact SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans) in Johnson County at 913-477-8131.

Web Sites –Long Term Care Options

1) www.jocogov.org/humanservices-aging Aging services in Johnson Cty
2) www.k4s.org Kansas for Seniors
3) www.aarp.org Nursing facility issues, overview of Medicaid
4) www.medicare.gov Comparisons and ratings of nursing facilities
5) www.kahsa.org Guide for Kansas not-for-profit nursing facilities.
6) www.kfmc.org Quality care initiative for Medicare beneficiaries in Kansas nursing homes and in the community.

Kansas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (KAHSA)
KAHSA represents 160 not-for-profit long-term health care, housing, and community service providers in Kansas. They have a guide to help prospective nursing home residents and their families make informed decisions.
217 SE Eighth, Topeka, KS 66603 785-233-7443 www.kahsa.org

Kansas Foundation for Medical Care
2947 SW Wanamaker Drive, Topeka, KS 66614-4193
Helpline 1-800-432-0407 or 1-785-273-0067 www.kfmc.org

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publish quality measures on every Medicare certified nursing home in Kansas.

The Kansas Foundation for Medical Care is committed to improving the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries in Kansas. Quality of care cannot be taken for granted. By law nursing homes must evaluate the quality of care their residents receive. Information collected includes:

Resident’s ability to move. Use of physical restraints.
Level of pain management.
Resident’s skin condition. Signs of pressure or bed sores.
Resident’s nutritional, medical status. Signs of delirium.
Signs of new infections.
Resident’s rehabilitation needs. Improvement in walking.
Resident’s level of daily activity.

For information on the quality of care in nursing homes in your area:
Call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov Nursing Home Compare. You may also request free publications: Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home, Guide to Choosing Long-Term Care, Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care, or the Nursing Home Brochure

Important Questions to Ask When Choosing A Nursing Home

Can residents make decisions about their daily routine such as when to get up or go to bed?
Is there a resident or family council?
May I see the last state inspection report?
What is the nursing staff to resident ratio?
How long do nurses and nursing assistants spend with each resident daily?
Does the home use any nursing agency staff?
Does the home have high staff turnover?

Checklist for Nursing Home Evaluation (Take notes and compare.)

The home is located conveniently for family and friends to visit.
Residents are clean and properly dressed.
Staff respond quickly to calls for help.
Staff members respect and care for residents well.
Staff and administrator interact well with each other.
Residents have the same caregivers on a daily basis.
There are enough staff at night, on weekends or holidays.
Residents are involved in meaningful activities.
The home is clean, in good repair, and a safe environment.
Outdoor areas are available for resident use.
There are grab bars, ramps, and phones for hearing impaired.
The home is free of persistent unpleasant odors.
Rooms and common areas are pleasant and functional.
Residents have accessible places for personal items.
There are private areas for residents to see visitors and doctors.
The home has a good reputation in the community.
Noise level is appropriate.
Meals are appetizing and served attractively.
State reports are available and show satisfactory history of care

Human Services & Aging
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #1300
Olathe, KS 66061-7056

(913) 715-8800 : voice
(913) 715-8825 : fax
(913) 894-8822 : TTY

E-mail