FAQs

In order to be admitted to a nursing home one must: Need skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, or health-related services above the level of just room and board. Need these services on a daily basis. Need these services on an in-patient basis.

Contact your local Agency on Aging to determine if your loved one is eligible for nursing home care. Agency staff will make an appointment for an evaluation of your loved one's medical and emotional status. If your loved one will be coming to a nursing home from the hospital, the hospital will conduct the preliminary screening.

First, contact the nursing homes you are interested in, tour the homes and pick up an application. When you submit the application, the nursing home will need to know the level of care the applicant needs. The applicant's physician will be able to help determine care needs. If your loved one is in the hospital and must be placed in a skilled nursing facility, contact the hospital's discharge planner or the social worker on your loved one's hospital unit for help in applying for nursing home care.

Nursing home care can be paid for in a variety of ways, including privately with personal assets, with health or long term care insurance, or through Medicaid and/or Medicare.

The Diocesan Health Facilities accept Medicaid and are 100 percent Medicare certified. We also accept a variety of private insurances.

Contact your local Department of Public Assistance for information about Medicaid eligibility.

Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the federal government for people aged 65 and older. Medicare is also available for many people who are permanently disabled. Medicaid is a program administered by the state, which pays medical bills for people with limited assets.

Although we are sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River our homes welcome people of all faiths & backgrounds.

5 skilled nursing and rehabilitative care facilities, and 2 community-based programs compose the Diocesan Health Facilities system:

• Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, MA (serving 300 men and women)
• Madonna Manor in North Attleboro, MA (serving 129 men and women)
• Marian Manor in Taunton, MA (serving 116 men and women)
• Our Lady's Haven in Fairhaven, MA (serving 117 men and women)
• Sacred Heart Home in New Bedford, MA (serving 217 men and women)
• EldersFirstGeriatric Care Management Program (sponsored by the Diocesan Health Facilities) 
• Alzheimer's Programs at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River and Sacred Heart Home in New Bedford.
• Pain Management/Palliative Care programs at each of our homes.
• Short-term rehab, Respiratory, Cardiac, and Respite programs

What makes Diocesan Health Facilities different is our mission of care, grounded in the Catholic philosophy that cherishes life as a gift that is meaningful...even in its final moments. That philosophy of care extends from our housekeeping staff to the nurses who perform increasingly complex bedside care and everyone in between. We strive to preserve our resident's God-given humanity, dignity and individuality regardless of their denomination. We live our mission of care everyday in word and deed.

Mission effectiveness committees led by the pastoral care directors in each of our homes make sure all residents, their families and friends, and anyone who enters our homes, feels the warmth of our mission in everything we do. Click here to read our Mission Statement.

We can accommodate those who need short-term care to recover from a hospitalization or toregain skills lost to their illness. Our on-site rehabilitation departments offer physical, occupational and speech therapy. Working as a team, our nurses, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, dietitians, and therapeutic activity staff create a personalized program of care to help many of our residents return to their homes in the community following a short-term rehabilitative stay. We also accommodate those who need an extended residence.

Each of our homes has a handicapped accessible chapel where Mass is celebrated daily by a priest chaplain. For residents who are unable to attend the chapel, closed circuit television viewing of the Mass is available in all homes to residents with televisions in their rooms. Trained Eucharistic Ministers in each home can also deliver holy communion to residents in their rooms.

We encourage residents to bring personal items such as pictures, a clock or radio, a favorite chair and other furniture (depending on space availability) into their new home.

Families are welcomed and encouraged to visit anytime. Visits can be more enjoyable for you and your father by sharing an activity together. A few suggestions are reading, reminiscences, visits with children, games, letter writing, looking at family photo albums or attending a planned activity in the nursing home. We only ask that visits not be disruptive to other residents. Visits away from the nursing home are no problem either. Please notify nursing staff who can give special instructions as necessary to ensure an enjoyable visit.

There is so much more to do than Bingo! Although many residents enjoy Bingo, our therapeutic activities departments provide many other recreational and therapeutic opportunities planned with each resident's interests and needs in mind. When new residents arrive in our homes, the director of therapeutic activities speaks with them to learn about their hobbies, interests and levels of functioning. Meaningful activities are then planned to meet those needs.

We offer a variety of large group, small group or individual activities daily, including exercise, socials, outings and movies. Many residents enjoy our expressive art sessions and reminiscence groups. Theme luncheons, cooking clubs, gardening clubs and card games offer something for everyone. Calendars of events are distributed monthly to residents. Our activities staff visits with each resident several times a week. Visits may include mail delivery, a bookmobile, a shopping cart, a sensory cart or a friendly chat. All holidays are celebrated with special festivities. Parties are held for special occasions, including a monthly birthday party.

Admissions directors and admin staff in each home would be happy to answer your questions, help with paper work or offer a tour of the home. Click here for the full list of facility contacts.