Our Facility

GENERAL OPERATIONAL POLICY
ADVANCED DIRECTIVES
PROVIDER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
RESIDENT ADMISSION
TELEPHONES
VOLUNTEER SERVICES
RESIDENT'S WELFARE
MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF PERSONAL FUND
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
REFUNDS
ROOM-HOLD CHARGES
ARTICLES OF VALUE
CLOTHING
MEALS
ACTIVITIES
VISITORS
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT REPORTS
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
MEDICATION RECORDS
MEDICATIONS
GRIEVANCES
TRANSFER POLICY
SMOKING TOBACCO, MATCHES, LIGHTERS, OR OTHER SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA

GENERAL OPERATIONAL POLICY

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• 24-hour supervision;
• Three meals a day in a group dining room;
• Personal care services,(help with eating, bathing, dressing etc.);
• Social Services;
• Medication management, or assistance with self-administration of medication;
• Social and religious activities
• Exercise and recreational activities;
• Arrangements for transportation;
• Laundry and linen service;
• Housekeeping and maintenance; and
• Cable in bedrooms




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RESIDENT ADMISSION


The facility will only admit and retain residents whose needs can be met through services from the facility staff and in cooperation with community resources or other providers under contract with the facility. Admissions will be determined by assessing the individual needs of the prospective resident in a nondiscriminatory manner on a case-by-case basis by the admission team.


1. The resident must be physically and mentally capable of evacuating the facility in the event of an emergency. This may include the mobile non-ambulatory, I.e., persons in wheelchairs or electric carts having the capacity to transfer and evacuate themselves in an emergency;
2. The resident does not require routine attendance during nighttime sleeping hours;
3. The resident does not require a licensed nurse on a daily or regular basis
4. The resident is not permanently bedfast;
5. The resident requires only medication supervision
6. The resident requires only general supervision of safety and welfare;
It is the policy of this facility to admit and provide all residents without regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, or handicap. The same requirements for admission are applied to all. All facilities of the Home are available without distinction to all residents and visitors regardless of sex, age, religion, race, color, national origin, or handicap.

Cruz Personal Care Home will assist in arranging the appropriate medical, health, and dental care services for each resident. A physician generally provides for the health care of each resident. Residents who experience periods of incapacity due to illness, injury, or recuperation from surgery can remain in the facility, or be readmitted from a hospital if appropriate services can be provided by the facility.

It is the policy of this facility to post copies of survey reports and related reports for public reference.

Each resident in this facility must be admitted by and remain under the continuous supervision of a physician of their choice who is licensed by the State Board of Medical Examiners. In the event the resident's attending physician cannot or will not furnish the information in writing and the service required by the standards set forth by the Department of Health, the resident or responsible party will be requested to select another physician of their choice who will furnish the information and servces required.

At admission the facility must obtain resident information from a physician, including current medical findings and diagnosis. If medical orders cannot be obtained upon admission, the medical history fulfills this responsiblitiy.

The medical history and physical examination report shall be sufficient for the attending physician to evaluate the resident's immediate needs, and shall include a diagnosis and any other information that may be needed for the care of the resident. A copy of a recent hospital discharge summary of history and physical examination report that contains all of the required informaton may be utilized.

Each resident must have a health examination by a physician performed within 30 days before admission or 14 days after admission, unless a transferring hospital or facility has a physical examination on the medical record. A "TB" skin test is also required.



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TELEPHONES


A telephone is available in the facility for resident use.

The resident's rooms are so designed that the resident may install, at their own cost, a private line. This phone will be a seperate charge that will be billed to you by your local telephone company. When a resident is transferred from room to room, it will be the resident's or responsiblity to pay for the cost of the transfer. It is therefore advisable to wait at least one week before installing a telepone due to possible adjustment moves. This facility is not responsible for any long distance calls made on this telephone.



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VOLUNTEER SERVICES


The facility invites volunteers in the community to assist in recreational and occupational activities, entertainment and social events, and visit with residents who might be lonely. The faclility screens all volunteers and reserves the right to choose those volunteers who would be an advantage to the residents.



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RESIDENT'S WELFARE


The administration is alerted to each resident's needs, and works toward helping them meet these needs. The facility will not infringe on the party of the resident at any time during their stay in the facility. Assessment forms will be filled out on the resident at the time of admission to provide the facility with some background infomation and the resident's likes and dislikes will be honored as much as possible. No verbal or physical abuse of residents by employees, management, guests, or relatives will be tolerated at any time.

The resident has the right to be free from any physical restraints imposed or psychoactive drugs administered for purpose of discipline or convenience, and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.

In case of an emergency the physician will be called. Following the call the relative will be notified. In the event the attending physician cannot be contacted, the alternate physician or the facility's physician will be called.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed except on the order of a physician.



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MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF PERSONAL FUND


The resident has the right to manage his or her financial affairs or designate another person to manage his or her financial affairs. Residents are not required to deposit their personal funds with this facility, but upon written authorization of the resident, responsible party, or legal representation, the facility will hold, safeguard, manage, and account for the personal funds of the resident deposited with the facility.

Each resident has a right to apply to the Social Security Administration to have a representative payee designated for federal and state benefits to which he or she may be entitled.



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FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY


Financial arrangements must be made prior to or at the time of admission. A current schedule of rates will be provided.

Per Diem rates include room, meals and personal care. These rates do not include prescription drugs or oxygen. Non-prescription drugs will be provided.

Payment not received by the 10th of the month will be considered delinquent. Accounts more than 30 days old are subject to consideration for removal of the resident from the facility. Upon entering the facility, an advance payment is required unless certification for Medicaid has been established.

If the resident leaves the facility for hospitalization or other reasons. this facility will hold the bed. If no bed hold is requested, the re-admission of the resident is based on the availbility of beds at the time. Bed hold rates are based on the normal daily rate for residents.



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REFUNDS


Should the resident leave the facility through discharge or death, the facility will refund the unused amount of the advance rate paid within 30 days of the date of discharge or within 30 days of receipt of vendor payment for the covered period. Each resident's rights to facililty services are not contingent in any manner upon contributions of any kind.



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ROOM-HOLD CHARGES


Upon hospitalization of a resident, or visits out of this facility, the charge will be the same and there will be no refund or credit. The resident will reserve his or her room upon arrival.



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ARTICLES OF VALUE


The facility is not responsible for any articles of value or money left with the resident. Please make arrangements before admission to leave these articles with a responsilbe party. We recommend that residents not be allowed to keep more than a very small amount of money on their person or in their rooms. The facility will keep a trust fund in the office in a special account for those residents wishing to utilize this service.



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CLOTHING


The resident must furnish all clothing. All linen will be furnished and laundered by the facility, but dry cleaning will not be the responsibility of the facility. All clothing must be clearly marked with a laundry marker prior to admission to the facility. Any clothing brought in at a later date should be properly marked. The facility is not responsible for any clothing misplaced or destroyed by the resident. The facility will provide for the proper management of resident's clothes to prevent loss and/or damage. If the responsible party plans to do the personal laundry, they must supply the resident with an airtight container to keep the soiled clothing in until it is removed for cleaning by the responsible party.



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MEALS


Meals will be served on a time schedule to satisfy the standards as prescribed by the Department of Health. Between meals and bedtime snacks are provided. Only a physician can order a special diet.

In order to protect the health of the residents, friends and families of the residents are requested not to bring additional food and drink items to the facility without consent.

Any special treats should be in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

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ACTIVITIES


The facility will provide for an ongoing program of activities designed to meet the interest and physical, mental and psychosocial well being of each resident.

Adult day care center is available weekdays. Transportation is included and is funded by Medicaid or private pay. Meals and snacks are served to meet the standards of the Department of Human Services.



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VISITORS


Visitors are welcome at any time, but it is suggested for the proper operation of the facility that general visiting hours be limited from 11am to 7pm. Visitors should be aware of the comfort and welfare of other residents and schedule their visits accordingly. An adult should accompany children under 16 years of age at all times. Smoking will be allowed in designated areas only.



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ACCIDENT / INCIDENT REPORTS


When a resident experiences an accident or incident that requires reporting, the staff on duty will document the incident. The physician and family will be notified of the incident. The resident will be observed for up to 24 hours. The manager, Minnie Cruz, will review incident reports.



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TRANSPORTATION SERVICES


This facility encourages families, friends, responsible parties, civic groups and charitable organizations as resources for transportation services for residents when needed. The facility will be responsible for normal transportation needs of the resident when the above resources are not available. Normal transportation refers to any transportation that is not of an emergency nature.



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MEDICATION RECORDS


All records pertaining to the resident are the property of the facility and shall not be released either permanently or temporarily to any individual except under the circumstances approved by laws and regulations governing such records.



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MEDICATIONS


A licensed physician must prescribe all medications administered in the facility with written orders for the facility. Orders concerning medications are in effect for the specified number of days indicated by the physician.

Medication will be released to the responsible party at the time of discharge only with the written authorization of the physician. No medication will be released to the family after the death of a resident.

Medication released to the family for resident home visits must be counted out and in by the staff member and signed for by the family before leaving the facility and again upon return.



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GRIEVANCES


We encourage and appreciate suggestions that will help our staff to promote better care and happier surroundings for the resident. Grievances should be brought to the attention of Melissa Rodriguez, Minnie Cruz, Manuel Rodriguez or Gloria Ballesteros and not discussed with the residents. The responsibility and correction of the problem lies with the management, and at no time should the person bringing the grievances feel that there would be any type of reprisal for stating a grievance. Please remember that a complaint taken to someone without authority may be lost or even cause greater problems.

The residents have the right to file a complaint with the state agencies concerning resident abuse, neglect and misappropriation of resident property in the facility, without fear of reprisal for voicing a grievance.



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TRANSFER POLICY


This facility will permit each resident to remain in the facility and will not transfer or discharge the resident from the facility except for the following reasons:

The transfer or discharge is necessary for the resident's welfare and the resident's needs cannot be met in the facility;

The resident's health has improved sufficiently that the resident no longer needs the services of the facility;

The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered;

The health of other individuals in the facility in endangered;

The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice to pay for (or to have paid under Medicaid or Medicare) a stay at the facility;

The resident, responsible party, family, or legal representation requests a voluntary transfer or discharge;

Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation presents evidence of mental illness or mental retardation, or a related condition, that does not require the level of service provided by the facility;

Or the facility ceased to operate.



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SMOKING TOBACCO, MATCHES, LIGHTERS, OR OTHER SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA


The facility is responsible for enforcement of smoking policies that include the following provision:

Smoking tobacco, matches, lighters, or other smoking paraphernalia are not permitted to be kept or stored in a resident's room or in their possession without supervision;

Smoking is permitted in designated areas only;

Smoking shall be prohibited in any room, ward or compartment where flammable liquids, combustible gases or oxygen are used or stored and in any other hazardous locations. Such areas shall be posted with NO SMOKING signs.