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Q:   What do I need to know when I’m searching for a nursing home for my loved one when I need a rest or cannot provide care any longer?                         
  
A:   There are many avenues to explore when seeking nursing home placement for your loved one even if it is only for short term care ......

This is usually a very  stressful and emotional time for both the family

member and the caregiver. 

Many times these decisions have to be made quickly because your loved one is being

discharged from the hospital and needs more care than you can provide at home. 

 You have to anticipate ....

ANTICIPATE AND BE PROACTIVE 

Discharge planners hand you a list and tell you to choose a home usually without                      

much notice. The best possible scenario is to be proactive and anticipate

 the possibility that your loved one may need more care and services

 than you are able to provide. 

Caregivers should take the time to identify and contact local long term care facilities that you may wish to visit.

CHECK IT OUT

Make arrangements to visit with the facility admissions staff; but also,

the homes you are interested in, go back and visit on your own.

There are many good nursing homes that provide excellent  care in a warm caring environment.

The most important part of selecting a nursing        

home is that you are able to visit your loved one often and can voice

your concerns if a problem arises:

 OBSERVATION  CHECKLIST

1. What does it smell like. Are there unpleasant odors and what time of day is it, during morning care or at meal time?

2. Are the staff members speaking and interacting with the residents in a caring  manner or only talking among themselves?

                                                                                                      

3. Are resident’s actively engaged in some appropriate activity programs or are they lined up in front of the TV. Ask to see the Activity calendars; do residents get the opportunity to have a selection; are they ever taken outside or on trips?

4. Do residents appear well groomed and dressed appropriately for the season?

5. Is the nursing unit that you are visiting noisy both from staff and residents?


6. Does it appear that there are sufficient staff members to care for the residents?

7. What do resident rooms look like, are they clean, homelike?

8. Does the interior of the building look like it is well maintained?


9. Look at meal service; are residents assisted to eat if they need help. Are the dining room and the meals served attractive? 

OTHER TOOLS

There are many tools that you can utilize that would help with your decision making:

All staffing must be posted on the unit where visitors can see it, if not

ask for it. All survey (inspection) reports are public information and must be in                                

a place where you can read them,  if not ask for the survey report.

The caregiver can always call the State Survey Agency that does the

inspection services  in nursing homes and ask them for information

about particular homes that you are interested in.

Caregivers can also visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Home Compare website

for information about any certified nursing home in the nation.

Elinor Fritz served as Director of the State Survey Agency for the New Jersey

Department of Health & Senior Services & is currently providing consultant

services.   We are so pleased that she visited the Cafe to help our friends,  Jackie & Jeff




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