Frequently Asked Questions

Technically, Carmel Hills is a skilled nursing facility. Carmel Hills offers 24-hour nursing care as well as physical, occupation and speech therapy for both short- and long-term residents.

While we do provide hospice or comfort care at the end of life, the majority of our residents come to us for nursing care and therapy services. Carmel Hills serves both short-term residents who primarily need therapy services and long-term residents who require varying levels of daily support.

A skilled nursing facility provides 24-hour nursing care and full-time on-site therapy services. The nursing care includes medication management and assistance with daily activities such as hygiene, toileting and getting dressed. These services are often covered by insurance, such as Medicare and Medi-Cal.

There are many levels of care homes and communities; independent living, assisted living, residential care for the elderly, and skilled nursing, to name a few. Carmel Hills is a state and federal license skilled nursing facility and is certified by Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California).

Carmel Hills Care Center has 99 beds.

Carmel Hills has 21 private rooms, most of which have a private bathroom. A few rooms share a bathroom with an adjacent room.

Without insurance, the private pay rate is $525 per day for a private room and $450 for a semi-private room shared with another resident. There is no required length of stay. The private pay rate does not include therapy services. Please contact our business office for therapy pricing and insurance coverage details.

Carmel Hills offers respite stays (typically 5-7 days) short-term rehabilitation (fewer than 100 days) and long-term custodial care.

Upon admission, and throughout a stay at Carmel Hills, our therapy team assesses an individual’s abilities, participation, and continued benefit from additional therapy. Therapy is typically provided 4-5 times per week, Monday through Saturday.

Carmel Hills is a Medicare/Medicaid-certified facility. In addition to accepting Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), we have contracted services through HealthNet and United Healthcare.

Generally, there are three ways to pay for skilled nursing care.

Medicare—a short-term rehabilitative stay usually involving the recovery from an injury or illness.

Private pay—when skilled nursing is required for the long-term, residents may pay out of pocket to stay with us.

Medi-Cal—after apply for Medi-Cal through the US Social Services Office, and gaining approval, Medi-Cal will pay for qualified individuals to stay long-term in a skilled facility.

Medicare is health insurance offered through the Federal Government for those over 65 years of age. As health insurance, it covers health care related expenses, such as doctor visits, emergency room visits, treatments and sometimes medication. Medicare will cover a skilled nursing stay on a short-term basis as long as there is a “qualified stay” in an acute care hospital. A qualified stay typically includes at least three nights spent at the hospital.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program administered through the social security department. It is a need-based program that covers long-term care for qualified individuals. To qualify for Medi-Cal, an application must be submitted and criteria met to be eligible. The process for Medi-Cal takes approximately 45-60 days, assuming all requested documentation is provided in a timely manner.

We administer medications to our residents, perform assessments and evaluations, and communicate daily with physicians. We also coordinate medical services with various providers. These may include follow-up appointments with outside specialists such as orthopedic doctors, cardiologists, and neurologists as well as in-house appointments with labs, x-rays, and podiatrists.

After an illness or injury, the hospital doctor may recommend a short stay in a skilled nursing facility. This is typically because the hospital completed their treatment, yet the patient may not be quite strong enough or it is not safe enough to return home.

Absolutely, yes! Regardless of which hospital provided care, patients have the right to choose their skilled nursing facility. The hospital usually has a discharge planner or care manager that will facilitate the referral. Inform them of your choice and be an advocate to ensure your expectations are met.

Carmel Hills is the only privately owned skilled nursing facility in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Owned and operated by brothers, Bob and Kim Bowersox, their motivation to buy the company was driven by the desire to provide the best care possible while maintaining a community of residents that benefit from an active yet peaceful environment. Whether staying for the short- or long-term, our residents can expect to feel safe, welcomed, and cared-for, provided quality meals, and offered a variety of opportunities to continue to live a full life.

Visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. however we recognize the need for family members to be present at the bedside throughout our resident’s stay and can make accommodations as needed.

Yes, mail is delivered to residents daily except weekends and holidays. Please address it as follows:

Carmel Hills Care Center
Attn: [Resident Name] Room No. _____
23795 W.R. Holman Highway
Monterey, CA 93940