Few tasks are more difficult or emotionally draining than selecting a nursing home for a loved one. The chore is even more difficult when it is necessitated by hospital discharge, with little time to plan ahead or evaluate options.
Even with very little time, there are several steps you should take when choosing a nursing home:
Ask friends or relatives or call the Eldercare Locator to get names of local nursing homes.
Go to medicare.gov and click “nursing home compare” to get the relative rankings of these nursing homes. Bear in mind that not all facilities are ranked and that only 10% of those in any one state may receive the top ranking of 5 stars. Lower ranked facilities may be just as good, so you should still do your own research.
Visit each nursing home you are considering and talk to the administrator. Ask to see the most recent state inspection survey. Inquire about the number of residents and the number of caregivers on each shift. Find out whether the same caregivers tend to the same residents every day on each shift; this policy of “consistent assignment” provides continuity of care.
Ask if there is a family member or resident council and when you may attend a meeting. Then ask a member what improvements in residents’ quality of life have been made over the last year – and what changes are planned for the future. Ask how the administration responds to the recommendations from the council.
Arrange to share a meal with the residents and ask to visit the kitchen. Is there a choice of foods at each meal? Is the food appetizing? Is the kitchen clean?
Make another, unannounced visit at a different time of the day. Are the halls and rooms clean and free of unpleasant odor? Are residents actively engaged in various activities? Are staff members friendly and interacting with the residents?
We hope this information will guide you in choosing a nursing home for your relative or family member.
