Question 1

What is a skilled nursing facility (SNF)?

Accepted Answer

A SNF primarily provides care and rehabilitation services for individuals who require nursing care. Our care center provides 24-hour, licensed nursing care.

Care at our center typically includes:

Our Passport™ approach to short-term rehabilitation
Intravenous therapy
Post-surgical stabilization 
Pulmonary management
Wound care
Assistance with medications
Aid in a variety of daily living needs, including dressing, bathing, walking, and eating

Additional services offered may include: psychiatric/psychological services, social services, podiatry and optometry, housekeeping and laundry, and personal hygiene services (barber and salon).

Question 2

Is a skilled nursing facility (SNF) like a hospital?

Accepted Answer

Hospitals provide a range of diagnostic and treatment services, including emergency and intensive care, surgery, diagnostics and imaging. Stays at hospitals are usually much shorter than in a SNF.

Skilled nursing facilities provide around-the-clock care to individuals in a short-term or long-term setting, including rehabilitation following surgeries, therapy services, and assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and dressing. SNFs are staffed by licensed nurses, therapists, and other medical care specialists.

Question 3

What paperwork is required for admission?

Accepted Answer

Guests or a responsible party will need to complete an Admission Agreement form with the admissions team within 48 hours of arriving.

Please enquire with our admission team as to which documents you are required to provide copies of.

Question 4

What are the visiting hours?

Accepted Answer

While our center doesn’t have restrictive visiting hours like hospitals, we generally suggest 8 am to 8 pm. We welcome all visitors and have several areas throughout our center where guests can comfortably congregate with family and friends.

Question 5

Can our family pet visit?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We welcome most family pets, including dogs and cats. We may request vaccination records and some breed restrictions may apply.

Question 6

What should i expect when it comes to meals?

Accepted Answer

We provide a daily menu based on individual diets and preferences. We also have an “always available menu” for guests who prefer something different. Dietary aides are available to review our guests’ preferences and help make healthy selections that support care goals.

Whenever possible, we invite our guests to dine in a common area rather than in their rooms to enjoy the social benefits of gathering with others.

Question 7

What should I leave at home?

Accepted Answer

Please leave valuables, such as jewelry, purses, wallets, and large amounts of money at home or with a loved one. We do not permit electrical items such as extension cords, space heaters, or electric blankets.

Question 8

What level of privacy can guests expect?

Accepted Answer

We place a great emphasis on providing a supportive and safe environment, including adequate supervision, while respecting each person’s right to privacy. Common areas are open for all and guest rooms are private spaces.

Question 9

How soon will therapy or rehabilitation begin?

Accepted Answer

Our goal is to ensure guests start rehabilitation as soon as possible. Therapy sessions will begin within 24 hours of admission and are offered up to seven days a week, based on individual care plans.

Question 10

Are patients able to spend a night at home?

Accepted Answer

Short-term Medicare and Managed Care/Insurance Patients – During short-term stays, guests are permitted to leave the facility for special occasions (eg. a wedding, funeral, or special religious event), although not overnight.

Long-term Medicaid Patients – Long-term guests are allowed a leave of absence (LOA) based on the Medicaid allowable time. LOAs are reviewed and approved by our medical team to determine the safety of the time away and coordinate any plans to accommodate our guests’ care needs while they are away.

Private Pay Patients – These guests have no restrictions.

Question 11

Who will be my doctor?  When does the doctor visit?

Accepted Answer

We have several physicians who visit our guests within 48 hours of their arrival. They also make weekly rounds. If a guest prefers to use an existing primary care physician, our center staff will help them with the guidelines we’re required to follow to accommodate their request.

Our center also has nurse practitioners onsite and 24/7 on-call care staff. Our guest rooms may also include FDA-approved remote monitoring devices that monitor guests’ vitals 24/7. These devices are monitored by a team of RNs who can communicate with physicians and nurse practitioners if there are changes that need to be addressed.

Question 12

Will i have a voice in my care plan?

Accepted Answer

It is every patient’s legal right to make their own choices about the care they receive, activities they participate in, and other aspects of their life while staying with us. A resident council, which is a self-governed body in our center, provides our guests with an opportunity to address any concerns.

When it comes to decisions around medical treatment, some guests can opt to give decision-making responsibilities to a loved one, such as a spouse, adult child, or other legally-designated person.

Question 13

How long will guests stay at the center under their SNF benefit?

Accepted Answer

Each guest’s length of stay depends on their individual care plan and how they progress through therapy. Please note that insurance-approved days and coverage criteria apply. We will communicate with our guests or their designated caregiver regarding coverage throughout their stay.

Question 14

How can guests leave the center?

Accepted Answer

When it comes to helping our guests return home or to another care setting, we closely monitor their progress and assess their requirements with activities of daily living. When appropriate, we support each of our guests with our Passport™ approach, including our Passport to Home program, to ensure a safe return home and continued treatment as needed.

Learn more about how we support the safe transition home with our Passport to Home Program.

Question 15

What happens when it's time to go home?

Accepted Answer

As part of our commitment to providing a continuum of care through our Passport to Home program, our guests receive a phone call from a nurse within 24-48 hours of returning home.  We’ll make sure they have everything they need to remain home safely and avoid complications, including a virtual visits with our Passport to Home Nurse Practitioners, continued therapy as needed.

Learn more about how we support the safe transition home with our Passport to Home Program.

Question 16

What types of care and rehabilitation services does Pine Heights at Brattleboro provide?

Accepted Answer

Pine Heights at Brattleboro offers 24-hour licensed nursing care, short-term rehabilitation with our Passport™ approach, intravenous therapy, post-surgical stabilization, pulmonary management, wound care, medication assistance, and help with daily living activities. Additional services may include psychiatric, social, podiatry, optometry, housekeeping, and personal hygiene services.

Question 17

How is a skilled nursing facility (SNF) different from a hospital?

Accepted Answer

Unlike hospitals that provide diagnostic, emergency, and surgical care with usually shorter stays, SNFs provide continuous care in a short- or long-term setting including rehabilitation, therapy, and assistance with daily activities, staffed by licensed nurses and specialists.

Question 18

What is the admission process and what paperwork is required?

Accepted Answer

Guests or responsible parties must complete an Admission Agreement form within 48 hours of arrival. The admissions team will provide details on required documents to be submitted.

Question 19

What are the visiting hours at Pine Heights at Brattleboro?

Accepted Answer

While there are no restrictive visiting hours, it is generally suggested that visits take place between 8 am and 8 pm. Visitors are welcome in several comfortable gathering areas.

Question 20

Can family pets visit guests at the facility?

Accepted Answer

Yes, most family pets including dogs and cats are welcome. Vaccination records may be requested and some breed restrictions may apply.

Question 21

What meal options are available to guests?

Accepted Answer

Guests receive daily menus tailored to individual diets and preferences, including an “always available menu.” Dietary aides help guests make healthy choices aligned with their care goals, and dining in common areas is encouraged for social benefits.

Question 22

What security and privacy measures does the facility offer?

Accepted Answer

The center provides a supportive and safe environment with adequate supervision while respecting guests' privacy. Common areas are open to all and guest rooms are private spaces.

Question 23

How soon does therapy or rehabilitation start after admission?

Accepted Answer

Therapy sessions typically begin within 24 hours of admission and are available up to seven days a week, tailored to individual care plans.

Question 24

Which nearby medical facilities can assist with specialized healthcare services?

Accepted Answer

Nearby options include Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (hospital and emergency care), Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Brattleboro (oncology and pulmonology), and Southern Vermont Orthopedic & Sports Medicine (orthopedics), which can complement the care provided at Pine Heights.

Question 25

Are there nearby clinics or specialists for dental and pediatric care?

Accepted Answer

Yes, neighboring facilities include Montshire Pediatric Dentistry, Connecticut Valley Oral Surgery Associates, Windham County Dental Center for dental services, and Just So Pediatrics, Field, Jane Katz MD, and Howes, Cynthia RN, CPNP for pediatric care.

Question 26

What nearby resources are available for additional wellness and personal services?

Accepted Answer

Nearby are Wellness Works offering professional services, Faithful Few Tattoo for beauty and piercing, and Salon Meraki providing hair salon and beauty treatments. Gateway Veterinary Clinic can assist with pet care, supporting families visiting Pine Heights.

Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation

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