It can be difficult to place a family member in a nursing home.Taking the time to research, visit and fully evaluate the nursing home will give you peace of mind and give your family member a better quality of life.
Step 1: There are nursing homes online.
Get an idea of what your options are by doing an online search for nursing homes in your area.Eldercare Locator, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Centers for Independent Living, and Medicare Offices are some of the great resources for finding services.You can do basic preliminary research to find out what is available for your family member.Look at the websites of nursing homes in your area to see if they offer the medical services and attention that your family member needs.You can use this research to make a decision on your price range.There is information on specialized care.If your family member needs specialized care in the nursing home, ask how they separate residents who don't need it from those who do.
Step 2: You can look at online reviews.
You should look online for reviews of nursing homes that you like.Some websites allow people who have used services to rate their experience.There are many websites with reviews from residents and their families.
Step 3: Do you like the quality of nursing homes?
Compare the quality of nursing homes with the U.S. Medicare website.The number of residents, licensed staff, and other basic information can be found on the website.You can find out if the home is Medicare or Medicaid certified on the website.You can get an idea of the safety, care, and health of a nursing home with the overall rating and detailed information on the inspection results.
Step 4: There are references to the nursing homes.
You can ask for references if you call the nursing home.To find out what residents and their families think of a nursing home, you can call their references.If someone claims that a family member was neglected in the nursing home, you might want to rethink your decision.
Step 5: You can check out the nursing home complaints in your state.
Every time a complaint is made about a nursing home, it is documented and put on file.Public records can be obtained from any state.This information can be found on the state government's website in Oregon and Minnesota.If you cannot find the complaint registry online, you can email, call, or visit the department in your state in charge of nursing home complaints.To find Medicare's Nursing Home Compare, visit https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html.
Step 6: You can find information on nursing homes in the media.
If the nursing home has appeared in the news for anything negative, you can search news databases to find it.Do not choose a nursing home with stories about residents being mistreated.
Step 7: Do you know if it accepts new residents?
If you want to know if a nursing home is taking new residents, call them.There is no point in visiting a nursing home that doesn't accept new people.
Step 8: Evaluate the outside environment of the nursing home.
When you visit the nursing home, pay attention to the surroundings.The area of town and the nursing home have security.Is it difficult for someone to break into a nursing home?A quiet and safe neighborhood is what the home should be in.
Step 9: Look at the décor.
A pleasing environment is what you want your family member to live in.This could be where they spend their last years of life, so you want them to be happy.The décor can affect the mood of an environment.It's a good idea to choose a place where the decorations and furniture look good.
Step 10: Take note of the safety conditions.
The home should have safety devices that are in good shape.Smoke detectors, handrails, sprinklers, and bathroom grab bars should all be working.What happens in an emergency if you ask the medical staff?Is there a medical provider that assesses the residents on a regular basis?Do they call the police?The emergency procedure is what it is.Do you know if they have a Medicare or Medicaid certification?
Step 11: Look at the smell.
The environment might make nursing homes smell bad.The smell of urine could be a sign that the nursing home is not being cleaned well.How often are diapers changed?They should not be changed for more than two hours.
Step 12: You can find the visiting hours.
When you are available, the visiting hours should not be when you have work or an obligation.The hours should be clearly posted.If you don't see the visiting hours, you can ask the staff.Don't be afraid to ask questions.You can ask about residents life when you visit a nursing home.The list can be found on the website.
Step 13: Try the food.
Ask if you can try the meal when you visit the home's cafeteria.The home is likely not going to be a good fit if you or your family member think the food is bad.Nursing home food should taste good because appetites can decline with age.You can observe the residence if you can't try the food on your own.It's a bad sign if you see a lot of people barely eating food.Ask for a weekly menu to get a sense of what's on offer.Ask if there is a nutritionist on staff to make sure residents' needs are met.
Step 14: The residents are being called.
It's a bad sign if residents are only called general names.The staff might not have paid attention to the patient.If they did not ask what the residents wanted to be called, they would not be respected.
Step 15: Pay attention to the staff.
Ask them how long their shifts are.Staff who work a lot of doubles and seem tired and stressed might reflect on how the nursing home treats their residents.Try to find out if there is a lot of turnover.It's likely that the facility is poorly run if people don't stay.Pay attention to how staff members treat each other.Staff members who are rude to each other can also be mean to their residents.The staff should stop gossiping to each other and focus on the residents.
Step 16: The residents spend a lot of time together.
It is a good sign that residents are not forced to stay in their rooms all day.A nursing home with a calendar of daily activities that can be brought to the residents' rooms is what you want.If the residents seem happy or not, pay attention.
Step 17: Check for signs of injury.
Don't assume that a bruise means that there is abuse happening, but do look for finger-shaped bruise in places that arent usually seen when you fall, such as the face, stomach, or back.
Step 18: Look for discolored skin.
As a family member ages, they can be unavoidable.A family member who does not refuse food should not have bedsore.Ask the staff if your family member is not getting out of bed and if they are spending a long time in the same position.If your family member is confined to a bed, you should ask the staff how often they are rotating.
Step 19: The staff handles emergencies.
The staff reacts when a resident falls.If they keep a close eye on the resident, watch if they check for injuries.How were you notified if your parent fell or had a medical emergency?How long did they wait to tell you?Did they call for help?Did doctors help your family member immediately?If you think the medical emergency was mishandled, don't ignore it.
Step 20: You can talk to your family member.
Ask your family member what they think of the nursing home.Ask them what they like about the food, the staff, and the environment.If they seem happy or not, notice.Don't ignore a complaint.It might be an easy fix if you address it with the staff.