Frequently Asked Questions

CCRC stands for Continuing Care Retirement Community. There are different types of CCRC’s available – Saint Mary’s is a Type C “Fee-for-Service” community which means residents only pay for what they need, but have priority access to a continuum of care in the future. Seniors and their families may find CCRC's beneficial because they provide a wide range of services, care, and activities in one place. View our Glossary of Terms to learn more about senior living terminology.

Under our Continuum of Care, we offer a variety of services that enable individuals to transition between levels of care and back again as their needs change – all in the same community. This offers residents and their families peace of mind, a sense a stability, and familiar surroundings as their conditions and abilities change with age. A CCRC is also beneficial for couples who may have, or develop, different care needs but who wish to live in the same community.

No, you do not have to be Catholic. Saint Mary’s Home of Erie welcomes persons of all faiths and denominations. While faith can play an important role in the lives of many of our residents, we celebrate people of all beliefs and backgrounds and understand that each individual is unique.

Some residents start with a respite stay, which is a short-term stay based on a daily rate that allows residents to experience a “trial” period. For respite stays, furniture is provided as well as other services such as laundry, housekeeping and meals.

We specialize in serving older adults, most of whom are 65 and older. During the admission process, you’ll be asked to provide medical and personal information as well as show that you have enough income and assets to support your care. Generally, your medical needs will be the primary factor in determining admission and what level of care is appropriate.

All persons seeking admission to Saint Mary’s are strongly encouraged to have an Advance Directive. Pennsylvania law recognizes two types of Advance Directives:

1. A Living Will, also known as an Advance Directive for Health Care and
2. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (POA)

Both a Living Will, which states your end-of-life preferences for medical care, and a POA, which gives someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf, are important documents to have in place. Your attorney can guide you through this process or our Social Services Department can give you some information to help you get started.

Couples, siblings and friends are welcome! Regardless of relationship, each individual must complete a separate application for admission and medical evaluation. There is a double occupancy rate for a second person living in the Residential Living and Personal Care Apartments. Double occupancy rates do not apply to those in the Carriage Homes.

Yes, all of the rooms at Saint Mary’s are private. You will have a private room with an attached private bathroom.

Yes, residents are encouraged to add their personal touch by bringing items like pictures and décor to help it feel like home!

• Our Skilled Nursing and Memory Care rooms are fully furnished. Respite rooms for short-term stays are also fully furnished.
• Residential Living apartments come with window treatments and kitchen appliances including a sink, microwave and fridge (two-bedroom suites also include a dishwasher and electric range). Residents furnish their own apartment.
• Carriage Homes come with window blinds, kitchen appliances (fridge, electric range, microwave, and dishwasher) and a washer and dryer. Residents furnish their own home.
  

• Fees at the main campus include rent, three daily meals, housekeeping and laundry, utilities, Senior TV cable service, Internet access, local telephone service (long distance fees apply), maintenance, 24-hour nursing supervision and call system, local transportation (*see transportation question below), activities and more. Wi-Fi Internet is available and a passcode will be provided to you.
• Fees for the Carriage Homes include landscaping and all-season grounds maintenance, interior and exterior maintenance and repairs, 24-hour medical emergency response call system, home security system, property taxes, local transportation (*see transportation question below), participation in activities, use of amenities, and trash removal. Carriage Home residents are responsible for all other utilities.

Yes, this is your home – you may come and go as you please so long as it is medically appropriate. We ask that you sign out of the facility for safety purposes so that we can account for who is absent in case of an emergency. Residents may have visitors at any time of day or night, but preferred visiting hours are between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Visitors will be asked to sign in and out for security purposes.

For Residential Living and Carriage Home residents, Saint Mary’s can provide local transportation to medical appointments within a geographical distance on certain weekdays. Transportation must be scheduled in advance and is included in the monthly fee. Priority is given to medical appointments before considering other transportation requests.

Residents may have a small pet so long as they can care for the needs of the animal. Visitors are also permitted to bring pets to the facility so long as they follow community guidelines. Pets must remain on a leash in common areas, not be a nuisance to other guests, and be up-to-date with vaccines.

Three meals a day are provided and included in the resident fee for residents in the main building. Weekly menus are available and residents will have a choice of options at each meal. All meals are served in the dining room and sick trays are available if the resident is ill.

Meals are not included for Carriage Home residents. Carriage Home residents have the option for an additional fee to order from the St. Joe's Café, which offers take-out meals, or eat in the Residential Dining Room.

Saint Mary’s will explore available financial options to assist you and your loved one. Options include:

• If you are in the Skilled Nursing Unit and your funds start running out, you have the option of applying for Medical Assistance.
• If you are in the Residential Living and Memory Care Units, Benevolent Care is an option after funds are depleted and the resident has stayed with us for the required number of years.

Benevolent Care is a form of financial assistance offered by Saint Mary's that helps cover the difference in the cost of care and the resident’s ability to pay so that no resident is asked to leave if their financial situation changes. Benevolent Care is available to those in Residential Living or Memory Care, as Medicare and Medicaid do not typically provide reimbursement for this type of care. Residents in these areas of care who, through no fault of their own, deplete their resources and can no longer afford their care may qualify if having stayed with us for the required number of years. Saint Mary's is able to offer this assistance through the James E. Mantyla Benevolent Care Fund which is supported through charitable donations.

Most LTC plans cover a portion of the room and board in both Residential Living and Nursing Care settings. You should contact your insurance company to find out what the terms of your policy are.

Most insurance companies accepted by Saint Mary’s have a copay for Skilled Nursing Care. You can either check your policy to determine your copay or contact our billing office for assistance.

Our Billing Specialists and our Controller would be happy to assist you.

• Sandy Joncas, Billing Specialist, at (814) 836-4386
• Amy Hall, Billing Specialist, at (814) 836-4387
• Pam George, Controller, at (814) 836-4382