Frequently Asked Questions

Do the homes have private bedrooms?

Yes, each of our new homes are designed and built with 15 private, individual bedrooms. We furnish each of these bedrooms with a bed and linens, wardrobe, nightstand and lamp, dresser and side chair. However, we encourage each of our residents (and their families) to furnish their own room with familiar articles or furnishings from home.

Does Potomac have specific visiting hours?

This is your home. You can have visitors at any time. All we ask is that visitors respect the privacy and needs of the other residents.

Are there activities during the day?

Yes. Each home is staffed with a full-time activity coordinator. The activity coordinator is the staff member who is primarily responsible for the sensory, cognitive and physical stimulation of each individual resident. Techniques ranging from group activities to individual therapies are used in each of our homes.

Are meals served at scheduled and specific times? Do the residents have to eat at that time?

All meals, snacks and beverages are served family style. While breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at general times; we try to respect and support the lifestyles our residents have practiced all their lives. Late risers and early risers may not necessarily eat breakfast together. Lunch and dinner are usually served during a general time frame as well.

Nutrition is a critical component in our therapeutic program. In addition to the need to provide a well-balanced and nutritious meal, we strongly encourage the socialization that occurs at mealtime. We will continue to encourage all residents to eat their meals with the other residents; and, we will make every effort to accommodate special dietary needs when prescribed by the resident's attending physician.

Can my mother walk around at night if she can't sleep?

Yes. Our staff is trained to support the resident that may encounter a restless evening of sleep. However, our staff is also trained to understand why this restlessness may occur. If there is evidence that this restlessness is a patterned behavior, in conjunction with the family and the attending physician, we will develop a care plan that will meet the needs of the resident.

Can you take dad to the doctor's office and other appointments?

Yes, there are a couple of options. First, with advance notice we can arrange for a local transportation provider to transport your loved one to an appointment. They will provide you with a bill for their fee for service. If you like, one of our staff persons can accompany the resident on the trip. The cost of the staff person's time and the outside transportation services can be billed and paid through your monthly statement. Second, you may choose to utilize one of the many outside professionals who bring their services into our homes. While these professionals do not work for Potomac, they form an important element of our community-based program. There are internists, podiatrists, psychiatrists as well as home health agencies and personal care providers like hairdressers in each community who are willing to make house calls. Potomac does not endorse or recommend these professionals and the family is responsible for payment directly to these providers of service.

Are your homes just for the people with early stage dementia?

No. It is the philosophy of the company that our homes are created to provide care for all levels of dementia, regardless of the stage. Also, it is the strong belief of the company that our residents be allowed to "age in place". As the progression of any dementia-related illness mandates increased medical attention for our residents, we will work with, and encourage, families to identify care that can be brought into the home, thereby allowing the resident to remain in this, their home.

While our environment has been carefully designed to care for the dementia needs of our residents, we will carefully consider the admission of a non-dementia resident who otherwise needs assistance with any of the Activities of Daily Living (eating, bathing, toileting, transferring and dressing). We recognize and support the needs of anyone who requires such assistance, and will work very closely with the family members to ensure there is a clear understanding of our environment; and, it's suitability for their loved one.

Will my mother have to move on to a nursing home when she needs more and more care?

Embracing the philosophy that all of our residents should be allowed to "age in place", Potomac Group Homes will work as an advocate to ensure families are well-informed about, and can arrange for, the appropriate care that allows for their loved one to remain in our home. Our role as advocate is one of the founding principles of the company, one which we take very seriously; and, one that will remain so to the fullest extent of current state and federal law.

How do you handle wandering?

Our homes are designed and constructed to encourage wandering. Specifically designed with internal halls that return to the center of the living room, our homes are conducive to the resident who wanders. In addition, our homes are built with a paved walking path that allows for monitored walks outdoors, but within the security of our alarmed, fenced front and back yards.

Mom's a little confused but she doesn't have Alzheimer's. Will you still take her?

Dad uses a walker (or wheelchair). Will you still take him?

Yes. We accommodate all residents, including those who need assistance with walking. We do not discriminate against people with disabilities.

Should I put a TV in Dad's room?

Some of our residents choose to have a TV or radio in their room. However, we encourage socialization and activity. As a result, we discourage the use of TV or radio as a means of occupying the residents.

Mom loves to be outdoors. Can she go outside?

Yes. Our homes are built with secured fences around the perimeter of the front and back yards. Each home is built with a front and back covered porch, complete with rocking chairs and patio furniture. In addition, our yards are equipped with paved trails that allow for supervised walks for all of our residents.

Do you add fees, as Mom needs more care?

No. At Potomac Group Homes we provide all services at a fixed, affordable rate. Our services are equally provided to all residents, with no financial increases based on levels of care.

Do you have doctors and nurses?

Residents are required to have a primary physician of their choice. Potomac Group Homes does not contract with nor have any financial relationship with any physician or physician group. We allow the primary physician access to our homes in order to minimize resident inconvenience with travel.

Our prototype homes are staffed by a Licensed Practical Nurse. Our LPN's are supervised by a full-time Registered Nurse.

How can I be involved with Mom's care? How can I be involved with her life?

This is your new home. You can and should be involved in every way that you feel comfortable with. Just ask yourself this question: "How can I best care for and support my loved one? What is best for them and our relationship?" Be assured that we will support you every step of the way.

Is the home secure? Can she wander away?

Each of our newly designed homes is equipped with a non-threatening, but state of the art, security system. Each yard is protected by a secured, alarmed picket fence. Every door and window of each home is protected by an audible alarm that alerts staff when there is an unaccompanied resident who attempts to wander outside the home.

What are your staffing ratios?

Our staffing ratios are among the very highest in our industry. We provide a staff to resident ratio of 1:4 during the daytime hours, 1:5 in the evening hours and 1:8 during bedtime hours. Furthermore, through the use of a full-time activity coordinator, we provide 8 hours of activity supervision each day.

How long has Potomac Group Homes been in business?

The company started operations in 1989 with 1 group home in the Washington, D.C. area. Since that time, Potomac Group Homes has grown into our current network of multiple unique and individual homes. We are currently breaking ground for several new homes throughout the New Jersey area.

I have seen several assisted living facilities. What makes a Potomac home different?

As a pioneer in residential living for those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia-related illnesses, a Potomac home offers several unique features that make us different:

We are truly the residential alternative to institutional care for those with dementia. Our homes are not wings or units that are a part of a larger campus or institutional environment. We are homes nestled into established, safe residential neighborhoods. Our residents don't live in our workplace; our employees work in our resident's home. And in our homes, we employ the industry's best staff to resident ratios: 1:4 during the daytime hours, 1:5 in the evening and 1:8 at night. Our staff is specially trained to provide personal care assistance with the Activities of Daily Living. In addition to structured group activities, we encourage resident participation in meal preparation, laundry, housekeeping, putting away the groceries..., all of which are considered to be effective activities. However, it takes our type of staffing patterns to provide this type of resident engagement and stimulus.
Our Medication Management Program is state of the art. It has been specifically designed for our environment, with particular attention paid to the following safety features: Each drug is checked for toxicity levels and synergies every month. The various physician prescriptions are crossed-checked by a pharmacist on a monthly basis. Between the time the prescription is ordered and administered, our system has 5 safety checks built in for the protection of the resident. Individuals formally trained and certified to manage medication administration complete each of the 5 safety checks.
A fundamental belief of Potomac is to gain resident independence from inappropriate medications. Because of our staffing levels and the intimacy of our homes, we have an increased ability to observe each individual resident. Our goal is to manage resident behavior without the reliance on psychotropic drug therapies. Our message is clear - we are not able to cure Alzheimer's Disease; however, with proper medication management we do frequently see improvements in the Quality of Life of our residents.
Our menu, which has been designed by a licensed dietitian, is prepared daily with fresh, store bought items. Our meals are prepared in our intimate kitchen three times per day, and is served in our adjoining, informal but well appointed dining room.
Finally, Potomac Group Homes was founded under the guiding principle that we would take a visible position as advocates for those with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related illnesses. We are very active in leadership and support positions with National, Regional and local Alzheimer organizations. As a pioneer in residential living for those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia-related illnesses, we clearly understand our obligations to speak for the rights of our residents; and, to support the communities in which our resident live.

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