FAQ
You've got questions - that's ok! There's a lot to learn about Independent Living, Assisted Living, and senior living in general, and we're happy to help.
DO YOU OFFER SKILLED NURSING OR LONG-TERM CARE?
We do not have a nursing home or rehab center on site, but we have excellent relationships with the highest-quality facilities in the Iowa City and surrounding area. Our residents often get priority at those facilities if they do end up needing more care than we can provide.
Remember: Not everybody ends up at a nursing home, and even if a community has nursing care facilities on site, that doesn't guarantee high quality of care.
DO YOU OFFER MEMORY CARE?
Our Assisted Living unit is set up to care for folks with mild to moderate memory issues. Those who can benefit from general guidance, direction and reminders are typically very appropriate for the Assisted Living level of care. However, while there are staff on site 24/7, our Assisted Living unit isn't locked during the day, and residents are free to come and go as they please. If someone has advanced Alzheimer's or dementia, needs round-the-clock supervision or would be unsafe around an unlocked exit, a dementia-specific Memory Care unit might be a better fit.
Questions? Don't hesitate to ask - we can help determine if someone is appropriate for Assisted Living or if they might need a higher level of care!
Remember: Just because someone is forgetful doesn't mean they need Memory Care. Assisted Living can be perfectly appropriate for someone with forgetfulness! And even if a community has Memory Care or dementia facilities on site, that doesn't guarantee high quality of care.
WHAT ABOUT HOSPICE?
We have great relationships with Iowa City area hospice providers and are very happy to accommodate hospice caregivers if a resident is admitted to a hospice program.
DO YOU ACCEPT MEDICARE OR MEDICAID?
Melrose is a private-pay senior living community, which means we're unable to accept Medicaid, Elderly Waiver, or other forms of government funding. However, some benefits that are disbursed directly into a personal account, such as VA benefits, can often be used to pay rent.
WHAT ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE?
Many of our Assisted Living residents have Long-Term Care Insurance policies that help pay a portion of their rent. Every policy is different, so it's a good idea to check with your insurance company far in advance to see what their requirements are. We're able to help verify services and submit monthly statements to insurance companies, but setting up coverage is up to the resident and/or their family.
IS THERE A WAITING LIST?
We do tend to stay pretty full at Melrose! We typically have a waiting list of 8-15 names for a given floor plan, but occasionally we do have availability when folks on the waiting list aren't quite ready.
Call to ask us about getting on the waiting list, or for info on any available apartments!
Take our advice: Get all your ducks in a row, make your decision, and actually make your move BEFORE something bad happens. Don't wait until the choice is taken from you by illness or circumstance. Trust us, it's way smoother (and way more fun) that way!
DO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE APARTMENTS BETWEEN INDEPENDENT AND ASSISTED LIVING?
While all of our common areas and activities are for everybody, our Independent Living and Assisted Living apartments are different. Our state of Iowa certification doesn't allow us to provide Assisted Living services to an Independent apartment. And though we're all in one building (89 total apartments), we believe that having all Assisted Living apartments in the same area, with a centralized care station desk, is important. Staff are on site 24/7 in Assisted Living, and when someone pushes their pendant or call button for assistance, staff are right there rather than on the other side of the building or up on a different floor. That means response times are fast, which is important when you're waiting for help getting out of bed or using the restroom.
Don't worry - we can help coordinate a move if you decide to make the switch from Independent to Assisted Living!
DO YOU SIGN A LEASE?
Independent Living and Assisted Living residents sign a year-long agreement that renews automatically on their anniversary date. However, we know things come up. If you need to be let out of the agreement, all we ask for is 30 days notice.
WHAT IF I LEAVE FOR THE WINTER?
We're happy to offer a Snowbird Policy, which is an extended-absence credit for those who are gone from the community between 1-6 months out of the year. Ask us for more information!
DO YOU HAVE REHAB OR PHYSICAL THERAPY ON SITE?
While we don't provide rehabilitation or physical/occupational therapy services, residents who contract their own are very welcome to invite their therapists to Melrose. We have plenty of space and great equipment in our Wellness Center for therapists to work with.
WHO OWNS MELROSE MEADOWS?
No big chain here. We're proudly owned by Newbury Living, a family-run property-management company based out of Des Moines, Iowa. Melrose is one of just two senior living properties owned by Newbury, the other being located in Des Moines. We have a fantastic relationship with the home office and operate with an extremely high level of trust and autonomy. Our President and COO visit Melrose on a regular basis and take resident and staff suggestions to heart.
