Selecting a nursing home for your loved one is a difficult decision. It is not easy to trust someone else or a stranger to meet the needs of your mother, father, spouse, or family member. Here is a list of factors you should consider when picking the right living arrangement and nursing home for your loved one.
1. Assess the Needs of Your Loved One
Before choosing a nursing home, it is best to understand the needs of the elderly person. Take into consideration your loved one’s medical conditions and the level of care required. You don’t want to assume that the nursing home or living facility has the right services, staff, medical equipment, or expertise to care for the individual. You’ll want to make sure that the nursing home has the required necessities to meet the needs of the person.
2. Conduct Thorough Research
It’s common practice to do research on the places you will stay, whether it’s a hotel or neighborhood of a new home you’re considering buying. The same holds true for selecting a location where your loved one will live. Before deciding on a nursing facility, you should take the time to conduct thorough research of your options. It is a good idea to see what others are saying about the nursing home through reviews and ratings. This is a decision that you should not take lightly, as the individual’s health, safety, and quality of life depends on it. Take the time to investigate the nursing homes. Many states have assessments and ratings that are available to the public by request. This will give you the opportunity to see if there are any code violations as well.
Here are some questions to consider:
• What facility processes are in place for preventing the spread of illness and infection?
• What is the frequency of hospital-acquired infections?
• What fall prevention measures are in place?
• What is the falling rate of the facility?
• Has the nursing home been reported for violations? If so, how many and which ones?
• Does the facility have a poor reputation in the public and among residents?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything that is important to you. You want to be fully knowledgeable about the living facility, their reputation, quality of care, and competency level.
3. Get Recommendations
There are multiple ways to find ratings and reviews, but you can also get recommendations from family, friends, and co-workers. They are a great source for feedback, referrals, and insight. If they’ve had a positive and/or satisfactory experience, it’s more likely that your loved one will experience the same. On the other hand, if they pinpoint areas of concern or share negative experiences, you’ll want to investigate the nursing home more closely or remove the option from your list.
4. Schedule A Visit
Once you have a list of possible nursing homes, schedule a visit. Do not move the individual into a facility until you have seen it first-hand. A nursing home can look one way on a website, marketing material, or over the phone but be a completely different experience once you arrive at the door. Take the time to inspect the premises, speak to the staff, ask questions, talk to current residents, and get a real sense of the environment to make sure it is the best choice for the individual.
5. Do a Final Assessment of the Facility
While you are there at the nursing home, closely observe everything you see. Be careful not to overlook important factors that will play a role in your final decision.
Take a look at the following:
• Cleanliness of the indoor and outdoor spaces • Activities program and/or schedule • Staff friendliness • Meal options
• Safety measures
By performing detailed research and touring the nursing home community, you’ll have a good sense of whether this is the right place for your elderly loved one. This will ultimately lead to an educated decision. Remember, the safety, medical needs, quality of care, and comfort of your loved one is the most important when choosing a living environment for them.
More information on choosing the right nursing home for your loved one can be found on the Medicare website, as well as A Place for Mom.
