TheComfort.homes

The Comfort Homes, LLC

Select this if you need expert advice to evaluate and navigate appropriate care options before or during a medical episode.

Schedule your Complimentay Consultation

to learn more.

Alcy’s Place

Select this if you need Comfortable Accommodations

for Hospice or post-hospital rehabilitation with a concierge approach to family support.

Honor God. Serve People. Empower Families.

Comfortable Accommodations

for Hospice or post-hospital rehabilitation with a concierge approach to family support.

ALCY’S

PLACE

The Comfort Homes, LLC

Patty @TheComfort.Homes

Find Me @ 1-888-597-2829

As a Licensed Social Worker, Patty Merker has years of experience in Transitional Care Units (TCU), skilled nursing homes, dementia care, home care agencies, in-patient Geri-psych, and acute care hospitals. Her journey to become a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and Healing Touch Advanced Practitioner began with one of her hospice patients in a nursing home. Her experience with end-of-life care for her own family members gives her the heart to serve others who are beginning the same journey. Patty’s skills and passion come together to help patients and families at one of life’s most difficult times as they care for a loved one.

Honored to have been there...

Gloria

1940 - 2012

Step Mom- hospice planned but not started. She died

in the hospital.

Halford

1931 - 2018

Dad- hospice care at his home by family

for about 2 weeks.

Patricia

1935 - 2014

Mom- hospice care at her home by her five daughters for 6 weeks.

Alcy

1933 - 2021

Mother-in-law - whose hospice experience

was the seed for

The Comfort Homes, LLC

Where Do We Begin ?

We start with a Complimentary

Conference via Zoom

Book your call

now!

Local options will be reviewed. Family can then decide on the best plan for their loved one.

Patricia Merker, LSW, CCA, HTAP

patty@TheComfort.Homes

Find Me @ 1-888-597-2829

Knowing the Types of Care

Palliative Care

Palliative care is a form of medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Patients may receive medical care for their symptoms along with restorative treatment intended to cure their serious illness. Palliative care is meant to enhance a person's current care by focusing on quality of life for them and their family.

Comfort Care

Comfort care is a form of medical care that focuses on relieving symptoms and optimizing comfort as patients undergo the dying process. Comfort care is appropriate when restorative or curative measures are no longer effective and the patient chooses to stop those treatments. This can allow a better quality of life at the end of life. In the hospital, doctors may change orders to reflect the goals for comfort (vs. restorative/ curative).

Knowing the Types of Care

Hospice Care

Hospice is a Medicare covered program of care for terminally ill people (life expectancy 6 mo. or less). The focus is on comfort during the dying process, not curing an illness. Services typically include physical care, counseling, drugs, equipment, and supplies. A whole-person approach includes the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs for patient/family with intermittent visits to patient home throughout the week. Hospice staff do not provide 24/7 supervision. Medicare benefit for hospice typically starts after discharge from the hospital.

The patient’s family is expected to make arrangements for 24/7 care/supervision or arrange for admission to a facility that provides it. The hospice team is another layer of caregivers in addition to family or facility staff.

Hospice care is not a replacement for

full-time caregiving.

Hospice Care Team

Physicians * Nurses * Aides * Music Therapists * Social Workers * Dieticians * Massage Therapists * Chaplains * Bereavement Counselor * Volunteers

Where To Go ?

stay in the Hospital

Acute care hospitals do not allow a comfort care patient to stay admitted when there are discharge alternatives that can accommodate their needs. Medicare does not cover hospice while a patient is admitted to the hospital.

Daily rate in excess of $5,100/day can be billed for a non-covered hospital stay.

REsidential Hospice

An all-inclusive care model typically with a flat daily rate. Some allow hospice agency choice, while others require the use of their own agency. Care delivery usually does not allow for families to be primary caregivers in order to reduce costs.

Average cost is $600/day.

Between 3-7 day non-refundable minimum.

Skilled Nursing Homes

Placement is based on room availability; many nursing homes have an abundance of shared rooms and a private room is not guaranteed. Private rooms can have additional daily fees between $20-$50+/day

Average cost is $400-$600/day with 15-30 day deposit on admission.

Go to www.medicare.gov for options in your area and facility ratings.

Care at Home

Having a loved one at home for end-of-life care has many benefits. There are some needs to be considered that may support this care being provided ‘off-site.’ See below.

Considerations for Care at Home

Patient’s home is not clean/suitable for visiting friends and family.
Out of town family members need to start cleaning out the house.
Patient’s spouse may have health concerns; unable to be caregiver.
Too emotionally difficult for spouse to have a loved one die at home.
Do not want hospice to be last memory in their home.
Local family homes cannot accommodate a hospice situation due various reasons that can include kids, pets, stairs, work schedules, construction projects, illness, emotional strain, smoking, overall logistics, other family members have special needs, and many others.
Promises that they would never be placed in a nursing home.
Fear of additional illness being in a facility with others who are sick.
Concern about staff-to-patient ratios/shortages in health care settings.
Need to give notice/move out of the Assisted Living apartment.
Assisted Living facilities not able to provide 24/7 care; unit is too small for family to stay and provide care.

Who Pays ?

medical insurance

Medical insurances (BCBS, Medica, UCare, Health Partners, etc.) do not pay for long-term care in a Residential Hospice or nursing home. These insurance plans are generally for short term TCU/rehab stays; not room and board.

Medicare

Medicare pays for Hospice care. It does not pay for room & board or caregivers.

Medical Assistance

Medical Assistance pays for long-term skilled nursing homes while on hospice. Approval for this benefit can take approx. 30-90 days after a qualified application is submitted to the County. Total assets generally need to be at or below $3,000. Contact your County directly for more information. Alcy’s Place does not accept MA as payment.

veteran benefits

Assistance can be provided by contracted Home Care Agencies. Benefits for Aid & Attendance and Home & Community Care programs may be available. Hospice is a covered benefit. Help is available from the VA to determine benefits.

long term care insurance

Long-term care insurance policies generally cover a portion of the costs for skilled nursing homes or private duty care. Agencies are able to help determine policy coverage and assist with billing.

Private resources

When a person needs somewhere to go, and others to take care of them in their final days, private financial resources may be needed for room & board and/or caregivers.

Why Alcy’s Place?

Supports Family

A supportive space for extended family to gather and visit and relax. A guest room is available for one family member or caregiver to stay overnight (included in rate).

flexible care options

Family can manage all care (24/7) to contain costs or may privately contract for home care services with an agency (see resource page). Around-the-clock care must be provided since Alcys Place does not offer any personal care or supervision.

room with a view

A spacious room with windows all around. Double sliding doors allow staying connected to all the action in the living/dining room and not feel ‘put aside’; closing for privacy as needed. Low windows showcase the garden and woods for a beautiful relaxing view. Room is equipped with an adjustable bed and is ready for move-in.

Second room available with advance notice.

Shared space approximately 1500sqft. which includes two bedrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchenette, bathroom with walk-in shower. Outdoor patio. Piano.

Daily rate based on customized care plan..Call for rates.

Alcy’s Place - Care Planning

The Comfort Homes, LLC

provides Care Coordination based on individual patient needs and family budget.

Family & Friends

Family and friends are excellent caregivers and often the individual’s first choice. Though there may be clinical needs, often the tender, compassionate care provided by the family for many hours of the day is exactly ‘what the doctor ordered’.

This can provide the peaceful, restful, tenderness that is needed at that time.

A combination of family help and paid staff is often a great plan.

Click here to schedule your family conference!

Private Duty/Private Pay

Alcy’s Place encourages family to hire an agency for professional care support. This allows the family to rest and their loved one to ‘settle in’ as the days leading up to the move have often been long and emotionally exhausting for everyone.

Customized care plan will be developed with referred agencies.

The Comfort Homes, LLC

12527 Central Ave NE, Suite 130

Blaine, MN 55434

The end of life deserves as much beauty, care and respect as the beginning.