Allentown Senior AdvisorWhat does a Pennsylvania personal care home need before admission?
Each new resident needs a medical evaluation by a physician, physician assistant or certified registered nurse practitioner within 60 days before admission or within 30 days after (55 Pa. Code 2600.141), plus a screening to confirm the home can meet the resident's needs.
The medical evaluation covers diagnoses, medications, allergies, mobility, diet and whether the person needs a secured unit. Ask the hospital or primary care office for it early; a missing evaluation is a common reason move-ins slip.
What is a support plan in a personal care home?
A support plan is the written plan, built from the resident's assessment, that says what help the home will give with daily activities, medications, health care, mental health and social needs, and it must be developed with the resident and the family or designated person and reviewed as needs change.
It is the closest thing to a care contract. Read it, ask for specifics (how many times a day, by whom), and ask for a revision if your parent's needs change after a hospital stay. Support plan sections are also cited in Lehigh Valley inspection reports.
Who cannot be admitted to a personal care home?
A personal care home may not admit or keep a person who needs the level of care of a nursing facility, who has needs the home's staff cannot safely meet, or who needs a secured setting when the home has no secured dementia unit.
Assisted living residences have more room to keep residents as needs grow, and can bring in supplemental health care services. If a home hesitates at admission, ask exactly which need is the problem; sometimes a home health agency or hospice can close the gap.
Can my parent keep their own doctor in a personal care home?
Yes: residents keep the right to choose their own physicians, pharmacies and outside providers, though the home may require that medications come in packaging its staff can safely administer.
Ask how the home coordinates doctor visits and transportation, and whether a visiting physician or nurse practitioner serves the building. Transportation to appointments is often an extra charge.
How do I prepare for a move-in?
Gather the medical evaluation, a medication list, insurance cards, power of attorney and health care documents, and the signed resident-home contract, then schedule the move for a weekday when the administrator and nurse are on site.
Before signing, read the contract and discharge rules. Of the 70 licensed homes in the three counties, 8 are licensed for 16 or fewer residents and 21 for 100 or more; the median capacity is 72. Smaller homes often move faster; larger ones may have a waiting list for a specific room type.
At a glance
| At admission a Pennsylvania home must | At admission a Pennsylvania home need not | |
|---|---|---|
| Health | Have a medical evaluation within the 60/30-day window | Accept anyone who applies |
| Planning | Assess the resident and write a support plan | Promise a level of care it cannot staff |
| Choice | Respect the resident's choice of doctor | Provide free transportation |
Sources include 55 Pa. Code Chapters 20, 2600 and 2800, Pennsylvania DHS, Department of Health and Department of Aging pages, CMS, VA and CareScout rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
