Frequently Asked Questions
Honest answers to the questions families actually ask before they tour. If yours isn't here, call Nimmi, the link below works.
How much does Bright Hands cost per month?+
Bright Hands starts at $5,000/month, all-inclusive. That covers a private room, three home-cooked meals daily, medication management, 24/7 awake care, bathing/dressing/mobility support, housekeeping, and laundry. The final rate is set after an initial care assessment of what your parent needs, with no separate monthly add-ons for medication passes or care tasks.
Do you accept Medicare or Medicaid?+
Medicare does not pay for assisted living anywhere in the US (it covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care under specific conditions, but assisted living is a different setting). Medicaid is not currently accepted at Bright Hands. We accept private pay, private insurance (where the policy includes assisted living), SSI, and SSDI.
Are there any add-on fees?+
No surprise add-ons. Many large facilities use a "base rate + level of care" model where extra services stack on top of the quoted rate. At Bright Hands, memory care, dementia support, ADL assistance, and 24-hour awake overnight care are included. Your rate is set after the initial care assessment, and if care needs grow, any change to it is agreed with you first.
What does "Level 3" mean?+
Maryland's Office of Health Care Quality licenses every assisted living program at Level 1, 2, or 3, the highest level of care the program is approved to provide. Level 3 is the highest: it covers residents who need extensive, frequent help, including many with advanced dementia or significant health needs. Most large memory-care wings operate at that level; few 5-resident homes do. Bright Hands does.
Who handles medications?+
Maryland requires a Certified Medication Technician (CMT) to administer medications in an assisted living program. The owner holds that certification and passes medications herself. Every dose goes on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) with the time, the initials, and a note if anything was unusual. Medication administration is supervised by a delegating Registered Nurse, as Maryland's assisted living regulations require. The owner is not an RN.
Is someone awake overnight?+
Yes. A caregiver stays awake in the home overnight. When a resident gets up at 2 a.m. confused about where the bathroom is, a person is already there.
Do you provide memory care?+
Yes. Our license covers memory care, Alzheimer's support, and dementia care. The home is small enough that residents with memory loss don't have to navigate long hallways or memorize room numbers. Familiar caregivers, the same routine, day to day. See our memory care page for the full picture.
What does a tour look like?+
About 45 minutes, in person, with Nimmi. We walk the home together: living room, dining, deck, kitchen, the actual bedrooms. Then we sit at the kitchen table and you tell Nimmi about your loved one's situation. Honest answers, no scripted sales pitch. Book a tour or call 301-871-1021.
Do you offer respite or short-term stays?+
Yes. Respite stays are 7-day minimum, no fixed maximum. Same $5,000/month rate, pro-rated to roughly $167/day. Same care, the same small team, same room. Many families use respite as a low-risk trial before committing long-term. See our respite care page for the full breakdown.
Can my parent move in if they have advanced dementia?+
Often, yes, our license permits us to care for advanced dementia. The exception is residents who require two-person transfers or behaviors that put other residents at risk. The honest way to find out is a tour and conversation. Bring the most recent care assessment if you have one.
Do you speak Spanish?+
Sí. Bilingual care available. Vea nuestra página en español para más información.
Don't see your question?
Call Nimmi directly. She picks up between 8am-8pm.