The Do's and Don't's of Choosing a Nursing Home for a Loved One

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a heart wrenching decision. I think the decision ranks up with choosing a daycare center for a child. The decision can be such an emotional decision, which makes it very hard. You may feel like your giving up on your loved one, which is far from true. The decision requires a period of adjust for both you and your loved one. The purpose of this article is to help you make an informed decision about placing a loved one in a nursing home. I am writing it from the view point of someone who worked in a nursing home for years. Be sure to write down some questions prior to visiting the nursing home. If you feel like all your questions are not answered on the first visit, return to the nursing home.

The first thing to consider is what insurances are accepted. This is an important consideration because most nursing homes cost $3000-$5000 dollars a month. Most people can not afford the cost of a nursing home, let alone the medical supplies needed for nursing care. There are the costs for depends, chux (plastic bed liners), medications and personal hygiene products. You may be able to purchase the items at a local discount store. Applying for Medicaid is also a consideration but, some assets may disqualify the person from receiving Medicaid. Another thing to consider is if they accept Medicare for therapy services.

The second thing to consider is the location of the nursing home. The location can affect the loved one in many ways. I have found from experience that loved ones whose family and friends visit regularly quality of life is improved. The location of the nursing home should be close to your home or work to make visits convenient. Being close to the nursing home makes unexpected visits more convenient for both you and your loved one. Lastly you should check to see if the nursing home is in a safe area.

The third thing to consider is the services offered by the nursing home. They are required to offer an assortment of activities. I would inquire if the nursing home offers something your loved one enjoys or would provide the activity. The activity department often offers outings to various restaurants and entertainment places. Check to see if a hair salon is on premises. Most nursing homes will provide transportation to and from doctor appointments. Check to see if Doctors will come to the nursing home to see your loved one. The majority of nursing homes have on-site therapy department. The therapy services should include physical, occupational, and speech therapy, by a licensed therapist. The conveniences of on-site therapy services can be important, if your loved one needs these services.

The fourth thing to consider is the cleanliness and safety of the nursing home. Check the floors, walls, tables, carpets, and rooms for signs of being cleaned recently. The floors should be waxed and shined including the baseboards. The rooms should be cleaned including the floor, bed and bathroom inside the room. You will probably not be allowed to go into an occupied room but, you can look from the hallway. Another thing to check is for signs of leaks from the ceiling which may be a potential fall hazard or mold issue. The nursing home should have multiple fire alarms through-out the facility. The exit signs should be marked. The nursing home should have regular fire drills, as required by law.

The fifth thing to consider is the patient care services. The nursing home should offer medication given by a licensed nurse. There should be a schedule for when showers are given. All of the nursing homes I have worked at offer showers twice a week, with no showers on Sundays. The residents should be cleaned up each day and dressed daily in their own clothes, not a hospital gown. The resident should be kept clean and dry on a regular basis.

The sixth thing to consider is the staff available at the nursing home. The nursing home should have licensed nurses and nursing assistants on duty twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. The ratio of nurse to resident ratio and nursing assistant to resident ratio is an important consideration. It would be unreasonable to expect a nursing assistant to care for 30 residents or a nurse to care for 75 residents. The expected ratios have decreased in the last few years, to help provide better care of residents. The ratio is usually higher on night shift due to residents sleeping. Check with your local department of health for the required nurse/nursing assistant to resident ratios. A social worker is important for helping with living wills and coordinating outside services.

The seventh thing to consider is the dietary program. Nursing homes usually have the option of two different entrees. Most nursing homes will comply with some reasonable entrée requests. Be sure to check with the nursing home about special diets; such as vegetarian, diabetic, low salt, renal, mechanical soft or puree. The nursing home should be able to leave a menu for you.

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is an important decision which requires lots of thought and consideration of you and your loved one. As a former nursing home employee one of the most important things is the presence of family and friends. I have seen time and time again that staff is more vigilant about taking care of residents whose family gives them a voice. Another important thing is to be sure to visit your loved ones at different times of the day or night.