FAQ

What is the difference between a nursing care center, personal care facility and an independent living facility?

A nursing care center is a skilled nursing facility that provides 24-hour supervision of residents by a variety of licensed professionals including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, rehabilitation specialists and social workers. Residents of a nursing care center are typically recovering from an illness, requiring rehabilitation, or receiving care for chronic medical needs.

A personal care facility also offers 24-hour supervision, but residents typically require less hands on care than is offered in a nursing care center. Care is usually provided by nursing assistants and normally falls within the areas of providing general supervision, assistance with activities of daily living (ADL’s) such as dressing and bathing, and assistance with medication management. Meals and scheduled activities are also provided.

An independent living facility offers apartments or cottages where residents can live on their own. Typically services are offered to ease the responsibilities of independent living. These services vary from community to community, but normally include lawn care, snow removal, maintenance services, housekeeping services, scheduled transportation and some type of meal program. In general, residents of an independent living facility are able to manage their own affairs and are capable of caring for themselves.

Do you have to be a member of The United Methodist Church in order to reside at an Albright Care Services facility?

Absolutely not! Though ACS is affiliated in faith with The United Methodist Church, we serve all persons, regardless of religious affiliation.

Does your facility have a waiting list?

We do have waiting lists for certain areas of our communities. It is best to contact the facility to determine if the area in which you have an interest has a waiting list.

What if I am independent but my spouse needs to be in assisted living or nursing care? Can we still move in? Where would we live?

Albright Care Services’ facilities have a number of couples living on campus who do not share the same good health. On an individual basis, we can create living arrangements which may include one spouse in personal care or the nursing care center and the other in an apartment or cottage.

Is there some type of residents’ group that plans activities, receives updates on what is happening in the community, or becomes involved in programming?

There are a variety of forums for residents to receive communications about what is happening within the various communities, what activities are occurring, what programs are being offered, etc. Resident involvement is encouraged. One major forum for residents is the Resident Association, which is specifically developed and run by residents. Residents Associations at all Albright Care Services’ facilities play a very important role in planning activities, establishing policies, and program development. All residents are automatically a member of the association.

Can I receive help with some of my daily chores if I live in a cottage or apartment?

Yes. Albright Care Services offers an Enhanced Service Program that is specifically designed to help you stay in your cottage/apartment for as long as possible. This program offers services such as housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, nursing care and meal delivery. It is a very flexible program that is customized to the individual resident’s needs.

Can I have overnight guests in my cottage/apartment?

Overnight guests are certainly welcome to visit for a short period of time. If your guest will be staying more than a few days, please inform administration.

Are there accommodations where out-of-town guests can stay during their visit?

All of the Albright Care Services facilities offer overnight accommodations. These are dependent on availability and reservations are required. Special arrangements can be made at a nearby hotel if all of the guest suites are reserved. Costs and availability can be provided by calling the facility.

Can I bring my pet?

Pets may visit in every part of the campus. Residents who live in the independent living and personal care areas of our communities may have a pet. Though we do not allow residents to have pets in the  Nursing Care Centers, we do have pet visiting programs to maintain these relationships.