Nursing Home:

A nursing home is considered a higher level of care than an Adult Care Home. Residents living in a nursing home have a higher level of medical needs than cannot be met in an Adult Care Home. Nursing homes provide 24 hour medical care as well as personal and health care assistance (bathing, dressing, grooming), medication administration, meal preparation, transportation and activities, as well as housekeeping and laundry.

Nursing Homes are licensed and regulated by the Division of Facility Services in Raleigh, NC. The Division of Facility Services, not the local Department of Social Services, is responsible for the monitoring of care in Nursing Homes. The Division of Facility Services also evaluates concerns and allegations that a person may have regarding care at a nursing facility. Reports completed by State surveyors are public record and are available for review on-line at www.medicare.gov.

Other programs that have oversight responsibilities for Nursing Homes are the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee. These programs work together to maintain the intent of the Resident’s Bill of Rights, to promote community involvement with Nursing Homes, to help Nursing Home residents and providers resolve concerns and to educate the public about the long-term care system. The Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee is comprised of volunteer members appointed by the Durham County Board of Commissioners. They visit each Family Care Home at least once a year and Adult Care Homes at least quarterly. They file visit reports that are included on this website.

In order to be admitted to a Nursing Home, an individual must be 18 years of age and must have a medical form
(FL-2) completed by their physician showing that they are in need of 24-hour nursing care and supervision.

Financial assistance is available to help pay for Nursing Home Care through the Department of Social Services.  Clients may apply for Medicaid to cover their cost of care.  In Durham, applications for this program are made at our Duke Street office with the Long Term Medicaid Unit. If a person is found eligible for Medicaid Assistance, they would receive a supplemental check to pay for the cost of care and are allowed to keep $66.00 of their income for personal needs