How To Choose The Right Nursing Home For A Loved One

Deciding which nursing home is best for you or a loved one can be daunting, especially when you don’t know where to begin. Although touring and looking at the website can give you some ideas about a place, it won’t tell you everything you need to know. Before making the decision to put a loved one somewhere for their end-of-life care, be sure to gather as much information as you can, and ask the crucial questions.

The chances of being faced with this task are high, as The Department of Health and Human Services reports that 70% of 65-year-olds will eventually have need for some kind of long-term care, and 35% will need in-facility care at a nursing home. With odds like this, it’s likely you’ll be faced with the decision one day if you aren’t already.

What Should You Look For?

When you tour a nursing home, be sure to really take in everything you can. Observe the residents and how they interact with one another and the staff, and whether or not they appear happy. Just people-watching at a nursing home can give you a good idea of its culture, as well as how the staff treats the residents. If the place seems depressing or hostile, you might want to move on to the next option.

Because Covid-19 has the potential to do greater harm to older adults, it’s a good idea to also inquire about the number of Covid-19 outbreaks, the percentage of residents who are vaccinated, as well as the overall procedure in the case of events like that. Take a look around and see what kind of protections are set up, and whether or not the staff wears masks around the residents. The Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services website is a useful place to visit when looking for nursing home Covid-19 data.

What Questions Should You Ask?

Ask as many questions as you can as you visit each location, and listen carefully to the answers you’re given by the staff. Some of the most useful questions to ask are the following:

• Are staff members fully vaccinated against Covid-19?
• What do you do in the case of a natural disaster?
• Do residents have private bedrooms and bathrooms?
• What is the visitation policy?
• How does your facility?prevent pressure sores?
• Do you offer special care for people with dementia?
• What’s the procedure in the case of another pandemic?
• How does the facility avoid infections?
• Who do I go to with any issues?

Article Link - How To Choose The Right Nursing Home For A Loved One

Author - Staff Writer

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