It's heart wrenching - the look you see in your loved ones' eyes when they know they can no longer take care of themselves.? It's equally stressful for you as those who once cared for you now need your help in finding suitable nursing home care for them. ?
So how do you go about finding the right home?
How can you be sure of the quality of nursing homes?? Is the staff trained and experienced to provide the level of care you want for your loved one?? Do they understand his or her special needs?? Do staff members treat their residents with the dignity and respect they've earned and expect?
Making a nursing home decision based only on literature, advice from others and TV and newspaper ads is not enough.? You need to visit each facility you're considering to get answers to the above questions as well as to get a "feel" for the quality of the staff and the level of care they provide as well as for the facility itself. There are also professionals you can ask:
•?? ?Social workers from your local hospital
•?? ?Your or your loved one's physician
•?? ?Area agencies
•?? ?Friends of your loved one who may be in nursing homes themselves
•?? ?Families and friends who have loved ones in nursing homes
•?? ?The Internet
Be sure you use these sources only for supporting information.? The ultimate decision must be yours.? A beautiful building and landscaping by itself should not be your deciding factor.? You need to know everything about the facility.? Visit the home a number of times (preferably at unscheduled times) and at different times of the day, such as at mealtimes. Observe the quality and quantity of the food served. Also check residents' reactions to the staff and whether or not the cleanliness of the facility is the same as you saw on your initial visit.
Most importantly and, if able, your loved one should be a major part of the decision process. The facility you choose will likely be home for the remainder of his or her life.
Once you've narrowed down your list of nursing homes, you should further investigate them through your state agency's inspection office.? This agency makes regular and thorough inspections of nursing homes, including residents' medical care, diet, condition of the facility, etc.? These reports are usually available for public review and, in some cases, can be found online.
You should also consider the following:
•?? ?Licensing - Be sure the facility is licensed and approved by your state's regulatory body.? If you don't see it, ask to see the license.? If one cannot be provided, cross the facility off your list.
•?? ?Facilities - Ask to be shown around the facility and take mental or written notes.? Is it easy for residents to move about within the facility?
•?? ?Activities - Are activities offered/scheduled for residents?? Physical and mental activities are important to the health and wellbeing of all and are especially important to seniors.
•?? ?Cleanliness - As mentioned above, be sure that the facility is clean at all times, not just during your scheduled visit. Stop in unannounced rather than making an appointment.
•?? ?Staff - One of the most important considerations you must make is the quality of the staff.? Observe how they treat the residents.? Are they friendly and attentive or distant?
•?? ?Language - If your loved one speaks a different language, is the staff able to speak and understand that language.
Although it may be difficult for both you and your loved one, it is important for you to begin the nursing home selection process as soon as you know care will be needed.? By doing so, your loved one will have time to adjust to the eventuality of nursing home living.? And you'll also benefit by having the time to choose a home that will provide the level of care you expect and at the cost you can afford.
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