FAQs

At Peabody Place, we prioritize ensuring that each prospective resident and their family possess a comprehensive understanding of the scope of Assisted Living, providing a clear and concise explanation of our capabilities and limitations.

Assisted living facilities in New Hampshire are regulated under specific state laws and regulations that delineate the scope of care they can provide. The limitations imposed on these facilities regarding complex medical care are crucial to understand, as they directly affect the type of services they can offer to residents. Here are some key points regarding these limitations:

Regulatory Framework: Assisted living facilities in New Hampshire must comply with regulations set by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These regulations are designed to ensure that facilities provide a safe and supportive environment for residents while recognizing the limitations in the level of medical care they can offer.

Scope of Care: Non-Medical Services: Assisted living facilities primarily offer non-medical services such as assistance with daily living activities (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, grooming, and medication management. They provide supervision, social activities, meals, and housekeeping services.

Limited Medical Care: While assisted living facilities can assist with medication management and basic health monitoring (e.g., blood pressure checks), they are generally not equipped to provide complex medical care. This includes tasks that require specialized medical training, advanced medical equipment, or continuous medical supervision.
Restrictions on Complex Medical Care: Skilled Nursing Services: Facilities are not licensed to provide skilled nursing services, which include wound care, intravenous (IV) therapy, catheter care, and complex medical treatments. These services require the expertise of licensed healthcare professionals such as registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

Acute Medical Conditions: Residents with acute medical conditions that require continuous medical attention, advanced medical procedures, or intensive rehabilitation services typically need to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility or a hospital.

Chronic Disease Management: Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or respiratory conditions that require ongoing medical interventions or monitoring beyond basic health checks is beyond the scope of what assisted living facilities can provide. Residents with such needs often require home health care services or periodic visits from medical professionals.

Medical Equipment: Assisted living facilities usually lack the infrastructure and personnel to manage complex medical equipment such as ventilators, dialysis machines, or advanced monitoring devices. The use of such equipment requires specialized knowledge and regular maintenance, which is not within the capabilities of most assisted living settings.

Licensing, Staffing and Staff Qualifications: Staff in assisted living facilities are generally trained in providing personal care and support rather than medical care. While some facilities may employ licensed nurses, their role is often limited to supervisory functions or basic health care tasks.

Licensing Requirements: New Hampshire law requires assisted living facilities to obtain specific licenses that define the level of care they can provide. Facilities that wish to offer a higher level of medical care must obtain additional licensing and meet stricter regulatory standards, which often align more closely with those of nursing homes or specialized care facilities.

In conclusion, assisted living facilities in New Hampshire are designed to support residents with daily living activities and provide a safe, social environment but are limited by regulation from offering complex medical care. For residents requiring intensive medical treatments, skilled nursing care, or advanced medical interventions, alternative care settings such as skilled nursing facilities or hospitals are necessary. These limitations ensure that residents receive appropriate and safe care tailored to their medical needs.

In our Independent Living setting at Peabody Place, residents enjoy a truly independent lifestyle. While integrated within our vibrant community and encouraged to participate in social activities, residents maintain full responsibility for their personal affairs, including medication management, meal preparation, laundry, and housekeeping, mirroring the responsibilities of homeownership.

However, Peabody Place can provide maintenance services and a housekeeping service for an additional fee. Although clinical staff are present within the building, their capacity to provide direct assistance to Independent Living residents is limited.

Determining the appropriate level of care is a highly individualized process, contingent upon a resident’s functional abilities and personal preferences regarding desired support. To facilitate this decision, our team at Peabody Place engages in comprehensive conversations with residents and their families, providing feedback and guidance to identify the most suitable placement option.

Regardless of individual circumstances, the initiation of inquiries into assisted living options signifies a crucial juncture. We strongly encourage prospective residents to transition to a vibrant community like Peabody Place while the decision remains a matter of personal choice and autonomy. Our philosophy emphasizes the importance of making this transition while it is still a deliberate and empowered decision.

Peabody Place operates as a not-for-profit private-pay community and does not participate in the Medicaid Program. Prospective residents are required to demonstrate the ability to cover the costs of their stay through private financial resources. However, Peabody Place does accept long-term care insurance as a component of the financial application process.

Peabody Place maintains a commitment to collaborative financial planning, working closely with residents and their families to navigate the complexities of financing. We understand that financial circumstances can evolve, and therefore, we are committed to supporting residents and their families by providing resources and guidance to explore alternative residential placement when private funds are nearing depletion.

The comprehensive monthly fee at Peabody Place encompasses housing, laundry services, housekeeping, maintenance upkeep, snacks, drinks and three daily meals. It is important to note that while this fee covers a broad range of essential services, certain levels of care necessitate additional charges. Following a thorough clinical assessment conducted by our clinical team, residents requiring enhanced support will incur supplementary fees, reflecting the individualized care plan developed to meet their specific needs.

Peabody Place provides competitive and equitable rates, while consistently prioritizing the holistic well-being of each resident, ensuring their physical, mental, and spiritual needs are comprehensively addressed.

To get information on rates and other details, please contact Peabody Place directly.

Peabody Place’s dining experience cultivates a warm atmosphere, fostering a vibrant sense of community and encouraging lively conversation amongst residents. We are committed to providing a diverse and high-quality culinary selection, with attention to detail in meal preparation. Furthermore, we readily accommodate special dietary requirements, ensuring that vegetarian preferences and food allergies, such as shellfish sensitivities, are handled with the utmost care and consideration. Our dedicated dining staff, known for their friendly demeanor and unwavering support, contribute significantly to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all residents. The dining staff further enhance this experience by providing delicious snacks during activities, adding an extra touch of enjoyment and care.

At Peabody Place, we offer a variety of purposeful programs designed to appeal to the diverse interests and ability levels of our residents.  By incorporating the Seven Dimensions of Wellness into our programming calendar, residents are able to easily identify and participate in the types of activities of particular interest to them: Intellectual; Physical; Spiritual; Social; Purposeful; Emotional and Environmental.  Monthly programming highlights include:

• Live entertainers, educators, religious services, and group exercise classes;
• World Cultures programming – a week dedicated to learning about another country’s culture, traditions, music, food, art, economy, etc.
• Intergenerational programs with students from local schools;
• Two bus outings offered each week: Hannaford’s grocery store (for independent living residents), and a destination location such as a museum tour, restaurant, matinee performance, ice cream shop, bookstore; farm, etc.;
• Theme days and special events;
• Memory-focused music, art, animal & sensory programming; and
• Various programs led by Peabody residents including: The Peabody Writer’s Club, the Men’s Group, Book Club, Knitting & Needlework Group, and Peabody Poets.

Through the rich variety of programs that we offer, our residents are able to meaningfully connect and build friendships with each other and staff, and maintain an important sense of purpose in their daily lives.