In any nursing home search, quality of care data should take center stage. Activities and scenery mean very little if your loved one is the victim of neglect or abuse. Medicare.gov provides a wealth of information on every nursing home in the country. In addition to basic facts like bed count and ownership characteristics, you can view detailed information about recent state inspections. The number of violations that each home had in the previous year is listed, but be careful to view the detailed report. Violations can be as minor as providing rooms that are a little too small or as major as ignoring cries for help and denying needed treatments.
If the number of safe facilities in your area is still too high, try speaking with acquaintances that have been through the process of choosing a nursing home. Nearby social workers or even preachers may be able to tell you about homes they know to be pleasant.
Personal visits can be very helpful in making your final decision if you know what to look for. If possible, bring your loved one along. Allowing input will make the eventual transition much easier for everyone.
When you arrive at the facility, take a moment or two to consider the surroundings. Does it feel warm and home-like? Are the resident areas clean-smelling and attractive? Is there an outside sitting area for residents to enjoy? Check the walls for personal touches and signs of activities. If the facility is depressing, chances are good that your loved one will not be happy.
Interaction is especially important at this stage of the search. Talk to everyone you can, from the administrator to the residents to the janitor. Look for a facility where employees are warm and welcoming. If you find that the majority of employees are too busy to talk to you for a few minutes, consider how they will treat your loved one once admitted.
When speaking with residents, look for residents with levels of health close to your loved one. If you find that the majority of residents are highly impaired, your able-bodied aunt or mother may not be happy in that particular facility. Beyond health levels, try to discern levels of overall satisfaction. Think twice about even the loveliest facility if residents seem unhappy.
Depending on your financial situation, funding may be the deciding factor between two or three finalists. If you will need to use Medicare or Medicaid funding, be certain that the facility you choose allows accepts those programs.
With a little time and effort, you can make a long-term care decision that you will be able to feel good about. Instead of wasting energy with guilt or anxiety, you can spend your time helping to ease the transition for everyone.
If you are experiencing fear guilt, or frustration at finding the best nursing home to care for your loved one, then Kenneth E. Strong, Jr. can help you eliminate those helpless feeling and gain peace of mind.
Download your E-book ¡°How To Select A Nursing Home And Get The Best Care For You Loved One¡± today at http://www.selectanursinghome.com
Feel free to use this article, in your publications; in its entirety provided you include the following notice: ? Copyright 2007 All Rights reserved. Kenneth E. Strong, Jr. and Front Row Connections, LLC., Virginia Beach, Virginia. http://www.selectanursinghome.com
His new Book and Audio-Book will be published by Tate Publishing in June 2008.