We anticipate our families to have many questions and we do understand.

Here are some of these often-asked questions:

Are you a Medicare/MediCal certified skilled nursing facility or do you accept HMO patients?
Yes, we are a 131 bed MediCare/MediCal certified skilled nursing facility and we welcome HMO patients.

Where can I find a copy of the CA Resident Handbook?
Our California Resident Handbook provides important and useful information on the services and amenities our facility provides. Download the document using the link on the right or below. We have also provided a link to download another information brochure – “Your Right to Make Decisions About Medical Treatment”.

View / Download the Covenant Care California Resident Handbook >
View / Download the “Your Right to Make Decisions About Medical Treatment” Brochure >

Does the Department of Health review this skilled nursing facility?
Yes. We are routinely evaluated by the Department of Health. These visits are always unannounced and every aspect of patient care is investigated. We have received superior evaluations because we maintain rigorous standards and expectations for our employees with regard to patient care.

What can I expect from nursing?
We have registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our nurses have to meet standards set by the State of California’s Board of Registered Nurses for licensure. The charge nurses supervises a staff of certified assistants (CNA’s) who help patients with bathing, dressing, and meals. In addition, the CNA staff take daily vital signs; i.e., blood pressure, temperature, and pulse and report these to the charge nurse. Authorized family members may also call the charge nurse at any time for a status report on a patient’s medical condition. We are here to assist with the family’s concerns as well as the patients.

How many days are therapy provided?
All therapies require a physician’s order. In the case of an HMO, therapy must also have authorization for treatment from the HMO’s case manager or utilization manager. The amount of therapy received by a patient is dependent on how much progress the patient makes. All therapists need to document significant progress to keep a patient on caseload. Further information is available from our facility rehabilitation director and our building administrator.

Who does the patient’s laundry?
Our facility offers laundry services or a family may elect to do a patient’s laundry at home.

How much clothing should be provided for each patient?
We would like families to provide at least seven days of clothing including 2-3 warm sweaters, slippers, and a robe if possible. Clothing should be comfortable and easy to put on and take off. Please use a permanent marker to put the patient’s name on each article of clothing.

What are the visiting hours?
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. We understand that most of us work and have difficulty visiting during the daytime. We ask that families use their best judgement in regard to the length of stay per visit and the time of the visit.

Is there a hairdresser available?
Yes. The hair salon is open Tuesday at 7a.m.. We have two hairdressers that will see both male and female residents by appointment. Please see the charge nurse to find out how to make an appointment for your family member (or friend).

How often does the doctor see the resident?
Physician’s are required to see patients shortly after admission. However, the charge nurse does contact the doctor at the time of admission for medication orders, dietary requirements, and other considerations. Doctors are required to make a monthly visit for long-term care patients but will come in if a patient is experiencing a change of condition in medical status.

What if the patient needs a consultation for other services?
We contract with many ancillary service providers including (but not limited to) the following:

• Audiology
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Dentistry
• Orthotics & Prosthetics
• Podiatry
• X-ray services
• Optometry
• Opthamology
• Dermatology
• Respiratory Therapy

Who do I contact regarding insurance and billing questions?
Our business office manager should be able to help you with most of your questions and concerns. If you have a HMO, you can discuss any concerns with the case manager assigned to the patients.

Who do I see if I have dietary concerns?
We have a dietary supervisor that is available to discuss patient preferences and needs with the patient and/or family. We also have a registered dietician that monitors each patient’s dietary requirements, weight gain and/or loss, etc.. In addition, our speech therapist is available to discuss special concerns due to a patient’s inability to swallow safely. We ask family members to please do not bring in food from home unless the charge nurse has indicated that it is all right to do so.

Who will make transportation arrangements for patients who have appointments outside Gilroy Healthcare Center?
Social Services makes all transportation arrangements.

What types of activities do you provide?
We post a monthly calendar which shows each day’s schedule of activities for our residents. These activities include (but are not limited to) the following: Bingo, Music, Arts & Crafts, Outings, Cooking classes, Adult Education, Movies, Physical Fitness, The Daily News, Religious services of most denomination is weekly, and furry friends.

May I take a patient out of the skilled nursing facility?
Yes, but only if there is a written physician’s order. Part A Medicare patients are the exception. Medicare feels that if a patient needs skilled Part A coverage, that he/she is to ill to leave the building with the exception of doctor’s visits or tests scheduled at an acute skilled nursing facility. Other patients need to be signed out by the responsible party at the nurse’s station.

Which languages are spoken in the skilled nursing facility?
There are issues pertaining to non-English speaking people living in a very multi-cultural world. We have the ability to communicate in the following languages. In addition to English, you may hear or with the aid of communication boards, you maybe exposed to the following languages. They are Spanish, Filipino, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Assyrian, Russian, Korean, Farsi and American Sign Language.

May we bring family pets in to visit?
This is usually not a problem but please check with the charge nurse first.