Steps to Putting Relatives in a Nursing Home

According to the American Geriatrics Society, the number of individuals that are admitted into nursing homes has risen since 1994. Many of these individuals are admitted to care facilities as soon as they are discharged from a hospital or after a sudden illness. Many factors contributing to this increase include age, low income, and poor family support. However, the occupancy rate in these homes has dropped to less than 90 percent. Many attribute this finding due to an increased amount of assisted care facilities.

Facts about Nursing Homes

Many people are unaware of how much nursing homes have populated across the U.S. In an article by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, currently, there are over 16,000 in the U.S. This accounts to approximately 1.7 million beds with 1.5 million residents currently residing homes. On average, residents are spending an average of 835 days in nursing homes.

What to do when Choosing the Right Home for Your Loved Ones

Selecting the right nursing home requires proper research and knowing what to expect. You can also research nursing homes across the U.S. by checking the database at medicare.gov. This page helps you find facilities by name, county, state, city or zip code and allows you to compare, check inspection reports and research staff data. The American Association of Retired People offers a list of actions to do prior to admitting relatives into a care facility. These steps can help ensure a less stressful decision for family members.

1. Make a checklist on what type of activities, programs, location and other facts pertaining to the proper home that can comfortably accommodate the relative's needs.

2. Research information about specific elder facilities.

3. Visit the homes you are interested in and make sure to double check the inspection reports.

4. Check references from other residents relatives and friends.

5. Enlist the services of a professional litigation, such as a medical doctor, to research if the facility was subject to any lawsuits.

6. Consider consulting experts who can easily find the right facility for your loved one.