Coming to terms with the fact that a loved one is no longer able to manage their daily life alone can be challenging. As a result, choosing the right care facility is an extremely important decision. There are numerous types of facilities that offer different types of service and care.
Nursing homes are just one option. Outlined below are three tips that may help you make a more informed decision on choosing a nursing home for your loved one.
Carry out extensive research online
Most nursing homes should have their own websites. In fact, many facilities can be found on medicare.gov. The site has a compare feature that allows you to establish a better idea of potential options within your area.
Crucially, the medicare website will also allow you to inspect public health reports over the last three years. This means that you are able to see how many citations the facilities have received, how serious those citations were as well as what the inspectors have recorded.
Visit prospective facilities more than once
It may be beneficial to visit prospective nursing homes more than once, at different times of the day. Taking in the atmosphere, observing the residents, noise levels, staffing levels and other features that the facility offers may give you a better idea of what conditions will be like for your loved one.
Contact your local ombudsman
Each state has a designated long-term care ombudsman. Their responsibilities include the inspection of facilities, tackling complaints and they are also there to help residents and families to resolve any issues regarding long-term care. You can ask if the facility you’ve chosen is generally in compliance or if there are a lot of complaints.
Taking proactive steps could help to ensure that you choose the appropriate care for your loved ones. Unfortunately, this is sometimes not enough to prevent elder abuse or neglect. If you or a family member has been a victim of abuse, it is important to know that you have legal rights and protections.
