Frequently Asked Questions

Open 24 hours. The best visiting time is between 11 am – 8 pm

We have a beautician available on Wednesdays. Services available include haircuts, permanent, shampoo, and set as well as color. Our beautician’s name is Nicole Zanger Haynes. Nicole is a mother of four and lives near Liberty, Illinois. She has been a hairdresser for Golden Good Shepherd Home since 2014.

We strive to create social programs and individualized activities to match the capabilities and needs of each patient. This also has a powerful impact on the healing process of those patients involved in some type of rehabilitation. Specific activities include active resident councils, musical performances, current events update- reading the newspaper, singing exercises, fitness activities, stretching exercises, religious meetings, outside entertainment, games, trivia, history, and volunteer involvement. We also strongly encourage families to participate with the residents in various activities.

A monthly calendar is posted to keep residents informed of upcoming events such as birthday parties, movies, musical programs, outings, candlelight dinners, ice cream socials, and other special events. We always welcome friends and families to visit and attend our special events.

Our social service team assists both patients and their families during transitional periods. They also provide essential information, manage requests and concerns, and help in the care and discharge planning for each patient. They can arrange professional services for Dental, Vision, Podiatry, Audiology, Power of Attorney, Dementia assessment, Psychosocial and Psychiatric Evaluation, and Individual therapy.

Should you wish to have Golden Good Shepherd wash your laundry please notify the front office upon your admission. Subsequently, if your family/caregiver is going to take care of your laundry at home, please let the nursing station closest to you know your plans. This way, the staff can place a sign on your closet door notifying our housekeeping staff to leave your clothing for the family to pick up. We request that your family provide a hamper for your clothes and pick it up twice a week.

All personal clothing is washed in an industrial washing machine at a temperature of 180 degrees. Make sure your loved one’s clothing is appropriate for washing and drying in these hot temperatures. Avoid bringing clothing that requires cold or warm water, or special care, or is subject to damage and fading. All clothing must be labeled. Please label the clothing with the resident’s name, NOT the room number or initials. Mark clearly and in large letters on the inside neckline or waistband. All items must be marked including socks, shoes, and other personal items.

We recommend approximately five changes of clothing and a pair of comfortable rubber-soled shoes. All articles should be washed, clearly labeled with the resident’s name in permanent ink, and entered into the patient’s personal inventory log in the medical chart. Other personal items should be marked or engraved for identification. We advise that patients do not keep valuable jewelry or large amounts of cash in the facility.

Although we do not have a formal policy stating visitation guidelines, we suggest using the common areas of the facility to meet with your loved one. If it is not possible to visit in one of the common areas, we suggest a limit of one to three people in a resident room at one time.

You may reserve the activities lounge for any special events (birthdays, holidays, meals) with 7 days advance notice.

We encourage children to visit, however, we ask you to alert the charge nurse to anyone visiting the facility under the age of 12.

We would love for your family pet to come to visit. Please remember to clean up after them and take the proper safety measures at all times. All pets are to be kept on a leash and should have all current vaccinations.

Physicians generally see patients upon admission and once every 30 days thereafter. However, our nursing professionals are in constant contact with all of the physicians that visit the facility. Some insurance companies require that physicians visit more often. Check with our nursing staff for further information.

Patients may have a leave of absence only with a physician’s authorization, which can be arranged through the nursing staff. Upon arrival and departure, the resident or responsible party must sign the LOA (leave of absence) book, located at the nursing station.

Definitely. Mail is delivered to patients personally on a daily basis except for weekends and holidays.

Golden Good Shepherd Home
Attn: ___________________ Room No. __________
101 Prairie Mills Road
Golden, IL 62339

Or consider using our Send a Greeting feature on the website. Just type the recipient’s name and type your message. When it arrives in our email box we will print it and hand deliver it to your loved one.

For the safety and welfare of all patients and staff, Golden Good Shepherd Home is a non-smoking facility. There are designated smoking areas on the outdoor patios.

We have a parking lot in front with ample parking with wheelchair access to the facility. Please observe all posted city parking signs. Avoid parking in spaces specifically reserved for the handicapped, employees, and physicians.

Consistent with the provision of special diets, always consult with the nursing staff before bringing food to patients. Any food kept in the resident room must be in properly sealed containers.

We recommend that residents bring a cell phone. At your request, we can also help coordinate a landline with the Adams Telephone Cooperative. WiFi Internet access is provided at the facility. You can bring your laptop.

You may bring your own television from home. Cable is provided to all residents free of charge.

Golden Good Shepherd Home has a vibrant atmosphere with dynamic, individualized activities that match the capabilities and needs of patients and their guests. We also have active resident council and volunteer programs. Scheduled activities include music, fitness activities, religious meetings, outside entertainment, games, gardening, field trips/outings, and volunteer involvement. If you would like to arrange something special or have suggestions and ideas for individual or group activities, please inform our activities director. We welcome and encourage involvement from family and friends.

Your rehab director can inform you of the rehabilitation program designed for your loved one.

Patients must have a Medicare card that reads “Hospital Insurance.” They must also be admitted to the facility with a physician order within 30 days of a three-consecutive night hospital stay. Generally, during the first 20 days of care, Medicare will pay 100%. For days 21-100, a daily co-insurance co-pay is required. Medicare does not cover skilled nursing fees over 100 days.

Upon admission, our Registered Dietitian and/or Food Service Director will interview you regarding your special needs with regard to food preferences. Our own food service personnel prepare all the meals. Special care is taken to serve flavorful and appetizing foods. All menus are developed according to prescribed medical diets ordered by the physicians.

Should you wish for another food item on a particular day’s menu, please make your CNA aware of your request. This information will be passed on to the Food Service Director and they will try their best to accommodate your needs.

Our Dietitian and Food Service Director also monitor your nutritional status using monthly weights, daily intake records, and relevant lab data. The results of these assessments are discussed at your care conferences.

Our primary concern is that you feel comfortable here at Golden Good Shepherd and that your needs are being met. You should feel secure and at ease with our staff, particularly those providing your direct care. If you have any concerns or praise for our staff, please feel free to contact our social services department. They will be able to address any apprehensions you may have regarding any particular staff members.

An Ombudsman is an advocate for residents. They are a third-party person NOT employed by the facility who comes by the facility periodically to monitor the activities of the facility. They are not able to tell the facility what to do but are able to be a voice for a resident with a concern.

Ombudsman Contact: Donna Schutte  1-800-252-9027

Golden Good Shepherd employs a full-time Business Office Manager for all financial and billing concerns. Should you have any questions regarding these matters please make an appointment to see our Business Office Manager by contacting the front desk/receptionist.

Additionally, should you have questions upon admission regarding the paperwork you are required to fill out, please call the front desk. You may request an appointment with our full-time admissions coordinator who will guide you through the necessary forms required for admission.

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a health professional who works under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to provide a wide variety of basic hands-on patient care. CNAs perform basic nursing functions such as personal care, taking vital signs, positioning patients, and ambulation.

An LPN provides basic bedside nursing care to patients under the direction of a physician or registered nurse. Duties within the scope of practice of an LPN typically include, but are not limited to, provision of basic hygienic and nursing care; measurement of vital signs; basic client assessment; documentation; performance of prescribed medical treatments; administration of prescribed medications; and, performance of non-medicated intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal.

An RN’s duties may include everything a CNA and LPN carry out, in addition to administering an IV, assessment of patients, skincare, and processing doctor’s orders. Furthermore, RNs typically take on management positions such as the Director of Nursing, who is responsible for all nursing duties in the building.