| Choosing the Right Nursing Home Facility |
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The decision to place your loved one a nursing home (also known as a Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (SNRC)) is difficult enough, but families must also decide which one is the best choice. There are so many options. Which one is right?
We all know the basics. nusing homes and skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers provide 24-hour patient care, a home-like environment, proper nutritional meals and skilled nurses. But what other things need to be considered? What makes one nursing home facility different from another? Does the facility participate in Medicare or Medicaid? How about location? What are the special services or features of a particular nursing home facility? Does the patient need to convalesce from an illness or do they need long-term nursing supervision for a chronic medical problem? There are so many questions to answer at such a difficult time. Here are a few tips for choosing a nursing home. These are just suggestions. Make your own checklist and get every question answered before you make your choice. Do Your Research The first step in the selection process should be to seek referrals. Individuals can gain valuable information by talking to long-term care professionals, hospital discharge planners, social workers, family physicians, friends and family. Speaking to these individuals can help clarify the issues and focus on your needs. The transition from home or hospital to a skilled nursing home facility can be very stressful for everyone. Whenever possible, the patient and members of the family must be involved in the decision-making process. The next step is to visit the facilities under consideration. But before you do a physical visit, plan to place calls for preliminary information and to schedule a visit. Find a facility in a location that is suitable to your family. Do some pre-screening so you select the nursing home that seems the most appropriate to your loved one. Schedule a Tour All nursing homes should offer tours to patients and their families. Tours help visitors to experience what the facility has to offer. The first visit should be pre-arranged with the administrator so you can have your specific questions answered, but plan on making more than one visit. On return visits, select different times of the day. One should be during meal time. This gives you the opportunity to sample the food and see the patients in a social setting. During each visit, evaluate interaction between patients and their caregivers. Make a List of Questions Selecting a nursing home is a crucial decision. You should have all of your questions and concerns answered, and any doubts resolved before making a decision. Make a checklist of questions that can help you conduct an effective and successful nursing home visit. A checklist should contain questions about licensure. Does the facility hold a current state license? Does the administrator? If the answer is "no" to either of these questions, you may want to find another nursing home. Ask the administrator about the facility's most recent state or federal inspection. Be Observant Look at the appearance and design. Is the facility clean enough for your personal standards? Does it have any unpleasant odors? Does it meet safety standards? Are the grounds well kept? How are the residents' rooms? Always observe the staff attitudes. How is the general atmosphere? Is it warm and pleasant? Are staff members courteous and respectful? Do they know the patients by name? Are visiting hours convenient for patients and visitors? Activities are always needed in the daily routine of a patient. Are there planned activities? Is equipment available for the patients to use (i.e., games, craft supplies, books)? Are outside trips planned? What patient care services does the nursing home offer? Are there arrangements with a nearby hospital for transfer if necessary? Does the nursing home have arrangements with an emergency transportation service? Is therapy available – physical, occupational and speech? Does the facility have barbers and beauticians available for patients? Protect Patient Rights Patients' rights are a very important factor in an nursing home. Is there a written description of patients' rights and responsibilities? Is it readily available for patients and families to review? Are arrangements made for patients to worship as they please? Use Online Comparison Tools Medicare has a valuable web site with detailed information about every Medicare certified nursing home, and a comparison tool called Nursing Home Compare The web sites of Michigan's two nursing facility associations also have valuable information about nursing facilities: |