How to Choose a Nursing Home
Deciding to put your loved one in a nursing home is never an easy task. When trying to make a decision, make sure to involve your entire family and if possible, your loved one who’s going to stay in the nursing facility. Here are some things you should know when choosing a nursing home.
Factors that You Need to Consider
Price. Though the price shouldn’t be the only basis on the facility that you’ll choose, it’s still important to look for nursing homes that are within your budget. It’s also a good idea to check your loved one’s insurance policies and finances. If you’re looking for a short-term care, Medicare would be able to pay for all your loved one’s expenses.
Your loved one’s needs. Check if the nursing facility would be able to provide optimum care, especially if your family member has special needs. You may also want to check if the facility is capable of providing emergency care to their residents.
Location. Do you want the nursing home to be easily accessible to you? Check the community that the facility is in. Is there a hospital near the area?
The nursing staff. make sure that the facility has enough number of nursing staff. Studies have shown that most nursing homes are greatly understaffed. You may also want to see how the nursing staff care for their patients. Do they treat them with respect? Are they approachable? Are you comfortable talking with the staff?
Looking for a Nursing Home
Referrals. One way of looking for a nursing home is by asking your friends if they know of a good nursing home. One of your friends may have put one family member in a nursing home too. You may ask them about the nursing home they’ve chosen.
Searching online and looking at listings would give you numerous choices.
Once you’ve picked out a home that you want to check out, look for reviews or comments about the home. There are forums and websites that provide details about certain nursing homes. These will give you an idea on what to expect when you visit the facility.
Visit the Facility. It’s best if you visit the home with your loved one. Let him get the feel of the place. It’s also a good idea to visit that place on different times. Check how the place is in the morning and in the evening. You may also want to know about the living conditions of the residents there. Are they given individual rooms or do they share rooms with each other? How is the food prepared? Is the environment clean and do they follow standard safety health measures?
Talk with the staff and director. Air out your questions to the staff or nursing director when you tour the facility. Listen to their answers carefully. Are you satisfied with the answers given to you?
Looking for a nursing home should be done carefully. Make sure that the entire family is in agreement of the place you’ve chosen. When living your loved one in a nursing facility, it’s important that you’re able to trust the people in the facility. Let them know that you’ll be there to participate in the care of your family member when you need to. It’s also essential that you make your loved one understand that bringing him in a nursing facility doesn’t mean you’re abandoning him. Visit him regularly and continue showering him with love.