HOW TO CHOOSE A NURSING HOME
Following is a listing of the important points to consider in selecting a nursing home for a loved one. Please note, however, that nursing homes are complex organizations and not all areas could be covered.
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First and foremost, does your loved one really need to go into a nursing home, and should the stay be permanent? Make sure your loved one�s doctor is trained in gerontology so he/she can make an educated choice.
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Does the nursing home have a Medical Director and Director of Nursing with training in gerontology? Current research is proving that many of the symptoms of dementia (commonly referred to as senility) are actually due to drugs, anemia, kidney function, and other causes. Trained professionals are more likely to be able to discriminate between symptoms caused by true dementia and those caused by other factors, thus resulting in appropriate treatment for your loved on.
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What are the administrator�s views and policies on care for the aged? Do you agree with them?
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What are staffing patterns like? Find out what your state�s minimum requirements are. A good nursing home will try to provide more staff than the minimum in order to give individualized care.
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Who does patient assessment on both day and night shifts? Wouldn�t you rather have a licensed nurse determining what your loved one needs instead of a nursing aide?
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Is there a good continuing education program for staff? Are such topics as fire safety, patient�s rights, and special conditions of the aged covered? In addition, how extensive is the nursing assistant�s training?
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The Activities Department should provide much more than entertainment. Are residents encouraged to become actively involved? Do the programs involve reality orientation and practice for dexterity? Are pets and young people invited to visit?
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Does the Social Service Department have at least one professional who is trained in social work? Among the treatable conditions for the aging, depression has one of the highest incidences. It�s important to have staff who can counsel the patient and the family to overcome the trauma and guilt accompanied by placing a loved one in a nursing home.
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Are the meals attractive and varied? Be sure to ask a resident about this. Is there a trained dietician or consultant?
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Will they launder your loved one�s personal clothing? Is there a marking system?
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Always tour the facility and talk with residents and staff before making a decision. Is the place clean and bright? Are the proper safety precautions taken?
CHECKLIST FOR A HAPPY TRANSITION
Give your loved one time to prepare. Tell them in advance that they are going to live in a nursing home. If possible, make them part of the decision-making process. Some families don�t tell their loved one until the day of the move in order to avoid feelings of anger and depression. The fact of the matter is that these feelings are probably going to be expressed; it�s just a matter of where and when.
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Actively involve your loved one in the nursing home choice. When you have narrowed the list down to a couple of best choices, take your loved one on a tour of those facilities. Adhere to their judgment as much as possible.
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Tell your loved one how long the stay is expected to be, or if the move is a permanent one. Building false hopes can only lead to problems later on.
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Give your loved one guidelines on how much contact they can expect from you and your family � then be true to your word. Also, remember that contact includes telephone calls and letters, as well as personal visits.
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Help your loved one to arrange their finances and break ties with the community if necessary. Look into the possibility of naming a power of attorney. Also find out if the nursing home requires a financial statement.
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Help your loved one with the distribution of any personal belongings that will not accompany them to the nursing home. It�s important to give them control over who gets what. Your job is implementation of your loved one�s wishes.
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Make sure that your loved one has appropriate clothing. Attractive yet practical clothes are preferred. If your loved one is to be chair or bed bound, an open back with ties on or hooks would be the most convenient. You can buy robes and housecoats to suit this purpose, or even alter dresses accordingly. In addition, be sure that the clothes are comfortable and can tolerate institutional laundering.
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In obtaining a doctor, it is important that he or she understand the requirements, by law, for continued visitation. If the doctor is geographically inaccessible, consultation with the nursing home staff over medication and other aspects of care might be difficult.
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Contact a local social services agency to find out the regulations and stipulations for Medicare and Medicaid. Be prepared to give the nursing home a Medicare number, an effective date, and information pertaining to Part A and Part B.
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Find out from the nursing home�s admissions department if a medical certificate and/or verification that your loved one is free of communicable diseases (tuberculosis, etc.) are required.
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See the nursing home�s social service worker before or upon admission to the nursing home. Their role is to help both the patients and their families during this transition period.