A simple answer to this question is that the amount/extent of care offered and the cost of services is less than the nursing home setting. Residents at Cedars need some assistance or supervision, but certainly are not ready for all the care of a nursing home. One other difference related to direct care is that Cedars does not employ as many nursing staff as the nursing homes, and they are not required to have all the same certifications. The cost of services in residential care is substantially less. Depending on the accommodations, cost at Cedars can be from one-half to two-thirds less than nursing home cost.

Most residents at Cedars pay for services with monthly incomes such as social security, pensions, or assets that have been saved for retirement. If necessary, assistance is available through two main sources: Missouri state medicaid and the Veteran's Administration. Each program is based upon individual financial need with an application process to become approved. Cedars will assist with all applications, and can answer any questions you may have.

Cedars does not belong to any hospital system or healthcare chain or religious organization. We are privately owned by James and Lucy Webb, a couple who lives in the Kansas City North area.

Yes, all residents have the right to choose his or her own doctors. Cedars does have a doctor that comes to the home 3-4 times per month for those wishing to be seen on site.

Each room, including semi-private, is equipped with lines for cable and telephone. This is an extra charge that a resident would set up individually with Time Warner and AT&T. These 2 utilities need to be contacted to activate service and set up billing information.

Cedars offers transportation for shopping and recreational activity only. We are shopping and going on outings several times each week. These are scheduled times, and can be found on the bulletin board in the recreation room or listed in the monthly calender. We are unable to provide rides to doctors due to the volume of physicians, specialists, clinics, etc.... utilized by our residents.

No, Cedars is only licensed to provide residential care.

In many cases, we are able to meet the needs of those with dementia. Many times the structure, supervision, and assistance provided at Cedars is enough to keep these individuals safe. Depending on the specific symptoms, it can be necessary for Cedars to decline admission or recommend a transfer for those who have needs that we are not qualified to care for.

Yes, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, electric wheelchairs, electric scooters are all acceptable. The only requirement is that the resident be able to use the equipment independently (ie. wheel own self or drive scooter safely).

No, walk-in requests for information and tours are welcomed. It is advised that an appointment be made if you are seeking the specifics of current availablility, prices, or financial assistance.

Cedars offers the service of in-home visits with brochure information and photos. We also offer the service of providing transportation for tours. We will pick you up, tour the facility, and return you to your home. (For out of the Kansas City Metro area, please call about availability of this service).

Yes. Anything you'd like to bring is welcomed. Cedars provides a twin bed, nightstand, chest, and chair for each resident. But, again, it is not required that you use our furniture. Size of room or size of personal space in a semi-private room determine how much of your own belongings you can bring. Whatever your decision about furniture, it does not change the price in any way.

Yes. We are licensed as a residential care facility in the state of Missouri, and we are inspected twice a year for compliance of all state regulations and standards.

Yes. The only rule we have is that each person must be able to care for the pet himself or herself. Cedars reserves the right to ask that a pet be removed for any reason (ie. destruction to room or dangerous to others).

No. Missouri regulations require that all medications be kept in the nurses' station, and that Cedars' staff administer the medicines. Included in this is treatments for diabetes, eyes, skin, dressings, etc.... The only exception to this rule is over-the-counter medications that one's physicain agrees can be managed at bedside (ie. tums, artificial tears, etc...).

No. This is another Missouri state regulation. For those who would like, it is acceptable to add a refridgerator, microwave, or coffee maker for some independence with this issue. Also, check the activity calendar for our cooking club which is held in the arts and crafts room.

Cedars does not employ therapists or offer these services, but outside physical therapy is welcomed whenever it is necessary for any reason.

Yes. We ask for three things: proof of license and insurance, that you do not transport other residents (this is a liability issue), and that your vehicle alway be in operable condition.

There are no specific conditions or diagnoses that determine this. What we try to do is be completely confident in our abilities to meet a person's needs. If we can not meet a person's needs for any reason at any time, we are required to address this and find an appropriate setting that has services related to any specialized issues. Some specific needs we are not trained to meet are those related to IV medication, isolation due to communicable disease, and issues of those who are bedfast. One specific requirement related to physical and mental ability is a person's ability to find and negotiate his or her pathway to safety. This means that each person living at Cedars must be able to get themselves to the fire exit in the event that we have an emergency.

They are people who have decided that living alone is no longer a good choice, and that nursing home care is not necessary at this point. Our residents have a wide range of abilties with some using wheelchairs and taking assistance with bathing and others simply in need of medication management and meal preparation. All, however, have a basic level of independence and the abiltiy to take care of their own daily living skills. Our resident's ages range from approximately 50 years old to about 100 years old. The most common age range is from 67-80 with 76 years old being the approximate average age. One last note is that Cedars happens to have more men than women which is a switch from the usual demographics.