Choosing a Nursing Home

Choosing a nursing home for a family member is one of the most difficult decisions in life. While every potential resident's situation is unique, there are some common criteria that can be used in selecting a nursing home that best suits the needs of the resident. And let's face it, its the health of your husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister or loved one that really counts in the end.

Location -

It's important to choose a nursing home that is both close and convenient to visiting loved ones. Most studies of nursing home residents have shown that residents who are visited often may recover more quickly, may be happier and healthier for the love and attention received and may receive a higher quality of care if the staff knows visitors come often and unannounced.

Services Provided -

Religious and cultural preferences, including offering special religious or ethnic dietary choices, can be particularly important if the stay in the nursing home is likely to be permanent.

Quality -

While quality of care should always be a primary consideration, it doesn't do the potential resident any good to choose a "fancy" nursing home if the resident can't afford it, if it can't meet the needs of the resident or if it is too far away for family and friends to visit. Try comparative shopping.

Enforcement History -

Information on a nursing home's compliance record under state and federal laws, including citations issued, penalties assessed for violations, deficiencies and consumer complaints are important indicators of what the quality of care in a home is likely to be.

Objective Considerations -

Once you have identified one or two nursing homes that seem (on paper at least) to be affordable, to have the services necessary and to have a vacancy, visit the facility. Ask to see the entire facility, not just the nicely-decorated lobby and one wing or floor. Try to get a feel for the quality of care provided and how the residents are treated by the staff. Resident appearance, use of restraints, residents' rooms, quality of food and activities are all important factors in evaluating a nursing home. Nothing, however, is more important than the quality and quantity of the nursing home staff.

Subjective Feelings -

How do you feel when you visit the facility? How does it compare to others? How did the administrator and staff treat you? Remember that you'll be depending on these people to take care of your family member. If you don't like visiting there, imagine what it would be like living there.

Help Available -

Nursing home data is provided by the federal government through 'Nursing Home Compare': www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp. On this site, you can search for nursing homes by state, county, city, or zip code. Information listed for each facility includes state-mandated nursing home inspection reports and number/types of complaints filed against various facilities.