Nursing homes provide a wide range of services including
24-hour nursing attention, on-call physicians, personal care,
meals, laundry and recreation.
People enter nursing homes for two very different reasons.
Some go to a nursing home for a short time to finish
recovering after a hospital stay. Medicare and other health
insurance will pay for this temporary nursing home care for
rehabilitation.
Many people live in nursing homes because they have
become frail, confused or ill and need ongoing personal and
medical assistance. Many nursing home residents require
this kind of long term (or custodial) care.
Long term care in a nursing home can cost an individual as
much as $6,000 a month or more. Medicare and other
health insurance may only pay for temporary care or
rehabilitation. Medicare or most health insurance does not
cover long term care on an on-going basis.
Some nursing home residents use their own personal
resources, including long-term care insurance policies, to
pay these costs. Others need to apply for assistance from
the Rhode Island Long Term Care Medical Assistance
Program, also known as Medicaid, either at the beginning
of their stay or when their resources have been reduced. To
qualify, individuals must meet certain financial, program
and medical guidelines.
Special rules apply to couples. They provide for a spouse at
home to keep assets and income to protect his or her
standard of living.
For more information regarding LTC Medical Assistance
guidelines or to apply for assistance contact your DHS
Long Term Care Regional Office or call:
• DHS Info line at 462-5300 for the number of the LTC
office in your community.
For information that can help you or a loved one choose a
nursing home, or to express concerns about the care a loved
one is receiving please call:
• The Alliance for Better Long Term Care at
785-3340.
• The RI Department of Health Division of Facilities
Regulation at 222-2566.
• The RI Department of Elderly Affairs at
462-4000.
• The RI Association of Facilities and Services for the
Aging at 453-0040.
• The RI Health Care Association at 732-9333.
