Some things to look for and ask about when looking for a nursing home for a spouse or family member. More here.
Before you choose a nursing facility
Check licensure, certifications, qualifications and care
When touring a nursing home:
- Ask to see the nursing home’s license.
- Ask if the nursing home is Medicare and/or Medicaid certified.
- Ask about the services the nursing home offers. For example, does it provide wound management for seniors who develop bedsores? How about physical rehabilitation services? Do they have a special unit for older adults with dementia?
Get to know the staff
When visiting a nursing home, think about your comfort with staffers:
It’s important to get to know the staff and create a “partnership relationship” with those who will be caring for your family member. The better the communication and interaction between staff and relatives, the better residents will fare. Try to meet with the nursing home administrator and nursing director. These two leadership positions are very important to maintaining quality care in the nursing home.
- Are they friendly? Do they answer questions from both residents and family members?
- Are routine care planning meetings held at convenient times for family?
Scrutinize facility cleanliness and safety
Here are some things to look for in a nursing home:
Make sure residents with special nutritional needs are well nourished
- Are there handrails in the bathing areas and hallways?
- Are there plenty of safe walking areas inside and outside?
- How many staffers are working at a given time during different shifts?
- Are there emergency and evacuation plans in place in case of fires, floods and other hazards?
- Are the bed rails or guard rails on nursing home beds raised up? Raised guard rails on beds pose a serious injury risk for older adults, and should rarely be used to restrain patients. Likewise, residents sitting in chairs should not be restrained with seat belts or trays.
Find out how staff help residents who have special dietary needs, or are unable to feed themselves. Some questions you can ask are:
- Does the staff try to feed seniors out of bed? What strategies do they use to do so?
- Does the nursing home accommodate special dietary needs? For example, do they prepare pureed foods, and carefully monitor meals for residents with diabetes and food allergies?
- Take a look at the dining room. How is the food served; on trays or from steam tables?
Evaluate routines and activities
Residents in nursing homes who don’t have dementia or other cognitive problems should be able to make choices about their daily routines. For example, they can decide when to go to bed, and when to bathe.
In special care units for residents with dementia, however, it should be clear that the nursing home follows a consistent routine. This is especially important for residents with dementia.
You should also consider the range of activities offered. Activities help nursing home residents remain social and stimulated. These may include:
Ask the nursing home if they can provide other activities if your family member has difficulty participating in the existing options.
- arts and craft classes
- chair exercise programs
- religious services
- discussion groups
- entertainment (for example, such as musical and dance performances or movie nights)