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Finding The Best in Long Term Care |
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Mom and Dad took care of you, now, you find that you are taking care of them. One day, a difficult decision may have to be made to seek long term care. Shopping for a nursing home or assisted living isn’t quite the same as looking for your first new home; however, these searches do have something in common. You are searching for a safe, loving and warm environment for the most important people in your life--your family.
Where do you start when looking for that long term care facility? How do you even begin to find a place that gives you a warm and comforting feeling of home?
It all starts with some investigation, a good deal of research, and lots of tours and visits. It can be an exhausting search, but worth the time and effort, knowing that your loved one is in the best place you could find. The following guidelines will give you some great starting points:
The Basics
- Is the nursing home certified for Medicare and Medicaid?
- Is the assisted living private pay only, or do they accept SSI or Medicaid? (programs vary by state)
- Do they offer the level of care that you need?
- Is the facility close enough to friends and family for visits?
- Is the facility licensed and is the administrator or executive director licensed?
Facility Appearance
- Is the building clean and odor free?
- Are the grounds well kept?
- Are there handrails in the hallways, grab bars in the bathrooms, and adequate lighting throughout?
Living Accommodations
- Are resident rooms furnished?
- May you bring personal belongings or furniture from home?
- Does the room have adequate storage space for your loved one’s belongings?
- What amenities are available, such as cable television, phone service, and private bathrooms?
- Will your loved one have a private room, or a choice of roommate? What happens if the roommates don’t get along?
- Are there common areas available for socializing?
Staff
- Do the staff and residents interact as family would? Are the staff members friendly to residents and do the residents appear comfortable?
- Do the staff members take the time to listen to your needs and answer your questions patiently? If the employees don’t have time for your concerns, it’s likely they won’t have the patience to listen to your loved one either
- What are the facilities’s staffing patterns and policies? Is there a registered nurse present at least 8 hours per day, 7 days a week?
- Does the facility do background checks on employees before hiring?
- What kind of training is offered for employees?
- What is the staff turnover rate?
Daily Living
- Are residents are clean, appropriately dressed for the season or time of day, and well groomed?
- Do residents have a choice of food items at each meal?
- Does a dietician or nutritionist review and plan the menus? Request a copy of the menus.
- Are staff members available to help residents with eating if needed at mealtimes?
- May residents have guests for meals? Is there a private dining area available?
- Are residents permitted to eat meals in their rooms?
- Are snacks available throughout the day?
- Can food be brought in by family members?
- Is there a varied activity program? Remember, there’s more to life than bingo!
- Are external activities available? How often to residents go out to community events?
Safety and Care
- Does the care facility have an emergency evacuation plan? Are regular fire drills held on all shifts?
- Are care plan meetings held with residents and family members in attendance?
- May residents continue to see their personal physician?
- Is the annual State Health Department survey available for review? Have any and all deficiencies been corrected?
- Are there physical, occupational and speech therapists on site if needed for services?
Tours should be available and welcomed any time of the day, fitting into your schedule, not the schedule of the staff. Set up your first tour during normal business hours, but then “drop in” unannounced during the evening hours to get a feel for staffing and the general atmosphere of the care when the administrative staff is not around.
Elaborate decorations and fancy chandeliers don’t necessarily equal the best service. It’s more important to evaluate the mood and atmosphere of the facility and the quality of care that is provided to the residents. When you find that right facility, you will know! If it doesn’t feel right, keep looking. After you choose a residence, if find that your loved one isn’t happy there, investigate the reason. Try to resolve the issues with the staff, but if that doesn’t help, remember that you always have the right to move them to another facility. Your family deserves the best-and with a little bit of legwork, you will find it for them!
What is important to you when looking for long term care?
Resources:
www.medicare.gov/NHCompare
www.longtermcareliving.com
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