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What do I look for when my family member needs nursing home care?

Posted: September 7, 2016, 11:01AM

According to William Grote, author of Helping Your Aging Parent, 40% of those 65 and over will spend some time in a nursing home.  The stay may be a short-term stay to recover from a fall or fracture, or it may be a long-term decision because your loved one needs more care than you can provide.  Quite often, placement is needed in a hurry because our loved one is being discharged from the hospital.  Or perhaps, we can no longer provide adequate care and we need to look for long term care. 

Are all nursing homes the same?  No.  And yes.  Nursing homes are NOT home.  Residents have activities arranged, food is provided, medications are administered, care is offered, and all nursing homes are surveyed by state agencies.  Do they all fare equally?  No.

If you even think that nursing home care is in your loved one's future, go visit.  Take a deep breath.  What do you smell?  Do you smell urine?  Food?  Cleaning supplies?  Listen carefully.  What do you hear?  Residents' screams?  Laughter?  Exchanges between staff and residents?  What do you see?  Dirt under the bed?  Clean floors?  Ask to have lunch or dinner at the facility.  What is the food like?  Is it hot?  What about seasoning?  Is there variety?  Maybe you want to talk to the staff.  How long have they been working there?  What do they think of their jobs?

When you visit, take notes.  Make your own comparisons based on what you find.  Contact us for a copy of a Nursing Home Evaluation Checklist that will help you organize your notes.

In addition to your personal exploration of the facility and the staff, check out the survey reports.  Ask the Director of Admissions to see the most recent state survey.  Do surveys tell all?  No.  They will not reveal how staff interacts with residents.  They will not reveal the cooperation of the administrative team if there is a problem that needs addressed.  Although food is assessed, they will not reveal the quality of the meal.  Ask questions about areas that concern you.

You can also go the Nursing Home Compare section of the Medicare website and check the survey results of facilities.  You can also compare facilities.

Ask friends and neighbors about their experiences with facilities in which you're interested.  What did they see as strengths and weaknesses?

The nursing home experience is an anxiety-producing experience.  You may feel that NO ONE is hearing your advocacy attempts for your loved one.  Maintain open lines of communication with nursing and administration.  Keep notes.  If you have a problem, make sure you OBJECTIVELY note what has happened and what your complaint is.  Develop relationships with the direct care staff.  Make sure you visit and are seen. 

You are still a caregiver but your role has changed when your loved one enters a nursing facility.

You can read more about choosing nursing homes at Nursing Homes: A Guide to a Good Nursing Home on the Boomer-Books website. 

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