Finding the Right Nursing Home

There comes a time in our lives when we may need to find 24 hour a day care for ourselves or a loved one. Finding the right care facility is of high importance. We have all heard the stories of nursing home negligence, abuse, and neglect.

Checklist for finding the right Nursing Home
When you are looking for a nursing home, it is a good idea to have a “what to look for” list handy. You would not try to buy a car without kicking the tires, would you? Our list below might help you think of things you should check into when looking for a nursing home.

 

 

• Get a list of the nursing home facilities in your area.

 

 

• Ask people you trust about facilities they recommend. You can start with friends, family, church members, or other organizations in your community.

 

 

• Consider if any special care is required? (for conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer, or other conditions)

 

 

• Contact the facilities on your list and ask questions such as: How many current residents do they have? How many openings they have? Is there a waiting list? If so, what is the average wait? How much does it cost? And, what does this price buy you?

 

 

• Now go check out each facility on your short list. Does it look clean and inviting? Does the food look/smell good? Do the residents look happy? What activities do they have for the residents? Do you see staff members busy helping residents or just standing around? Does the facility smell clean?

 

 

• While you are at the facility, talk with the director and ask “How long he/she has been there?” With permission, talk with some residents and see if they are comfortable.

 

 

• For your final facility candidates, revisit them unannounced at a different time of day/night and on a different day of the week. Check the same types of things you did on your first visit.

 

 

Our website can help you with this endeavor. Our free nursing home locator will help you locate a facility near you. Our site provides information such as fire and safety inspection violations and residents’ complaints about each facility. Our facility detail listings has an individual comment section where you can share your thoughts and ask questions too.

You can find our free nursing home locater at Nursing Homes by State. To get more information about any facility, use the “Free Information” request form on the facility’s detail listing page.

We hope you find this resource a valuable tool for helping you find the right facility to meet your needs. For more information about aging and aging related issues, check out our website at: www.ConcerningAging.com.

Comments are closed.