Several options are available to pay for skilled care, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, long-term care policies, insurance and private pay. Liberty’s skilled nursing centers participate with several insurance plans. Some of these plans have co-pay or co-insurance amounts the resident is responsible for paying. Residents must have a skilled or medical need in order for Medicare and insurance to pay for services in a skilled nursing center. Liberty staff can conduct a financial verification and review with you what type of coverage is in place and what out-of-pocket costs may exist.

Medicare offers up to a 100 day benefit. In order for Medicare to pay for a skilled nursing stay, the individual must have a three-day qualifying hospital stay. Traditional Medicare pays 100 percent on days 1 through 20 and days 21 through 100 have a co-insurance amount the individual is responsible for paying. This co-insurance amount is set by Medicare and changes each January. Residents must have a skilled or medical need for Medicare to pay for these services.

All Liberty residents have access to physical, occupational and speech therapy. Upon admission, residents receive an evaluation to determine the amount of therapy they need, including the amount they can tolerate.

Each person is different; therefore, how long they receive rehabilitation depends on their progress in therapy, as well as their complete medical condition and history.

Liberty’s skilled nursing centers can admit a resident from home. However, we recommend having an appointment with your primary care physician first. The physician completes paperwork for our Liberty staff to review, including an FL2, medications list, medical history and physical. For Medicare and certain insurances to pay for skilled care, the individual must have a skilled or medical need and a three-day qualifying hospital stay.

Depending on the type of payment, a physician’s certification that an individual needs skilled care is necessary. Liberty’s skilled nursing centers receive a wide range of referrals that typically come from physicians, hospitals, acute rehab, long-term acute care, assisted living centers, elder care attorneys, adult day care and public agencies.

Liberty’s interdisciplinary team includes certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses who provide nursing care, medication administration and assistance with activities of daily living. Our in-house therapy teams are made up of licensed physical, occupational and speech therapists, as well as physical and occupational therapy assistants.

Residents are encouraged to bring comfortable clothes they can easily move in for their therapy sessions. We suggest packing a week’s worth of clothing. Comfort is key.

Our Liberty communities provide basic items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, bedding, towels, wash cloths and gowns. Please bring specific brands you prefer so you feel as comfortable as possible. Residents often bring photographs of family, motivational items and personal cell phones.

Residents may occasionally want to leave their skilled nursing center to attend a family gathering or holiday celebration. Please speak with your center’s social worker about planning a leave of absence. There are certain restrictions that apply based on the resident’s current medical condition, as well as who is paying for the care.

Our centers host a variety of social activities and encourage residents to participate. Activities include themed socials, women’s groups, men’s groups, community outings, book clubs, movie nights, arts and crafts, exercise groups and much more.

All our centers encourage family and friends to visit residents and to actively participate in therapy. Visiting hours are posted within each center’s lobby and are generally between 8:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. These hours are suggested guidelines, so residents may receive adequate rest each day. Please speak with the social worker or the nurse manager to arrange an alternative visiting time.

Residents are assigned an attending physician at admission. Our centers have a medical director and other physicians who are assigned to oversee the care residents receive during their stay. Contact the Admissions Office for a complete list of the physicians who have privileges at our centers. Please let us know your physician’s name, and we will contact them about getting credentialed to see a resident.