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Article: Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

Last post 03-09-2012 11:04 PM by KathRbrts. 4 replies.
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  • 03-18-2008 11:51 PM

    Article: Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

    Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

    Choosing the right home for an elderly loved one is the most important elder care decision a family can make. Be sure to schedule visits to several different communities so you have options before deciding. Here are some helpful “tips on touring” about what to look for when you tour nursing homes, assisted living homes, or other senior housing communities.

    Remember that it is not the decor that counts, but the quality of care your loved one will receive that’s most important.

    Tip #1: Clean as a Whistle

    Is the community fresh and clean? Look past the furnishings and into corners, baseboards, and windows. Ask how often housekeeping is provided in the apartment or room. What services does maintenance provide? What is their response time?

    Tip #2: Follow Your Nose

    Odors may indicate a lack of cleanliness or a temporary problem that was caused by a recent incident. If you find odors in a concentrated area of the tour this may indicate a single incident. Odors throughout the community are likely to indicate a problem. Ask the manager what they believe to be the problem before proceeding.

    Tip #3: Busy residents are happy residents

    Ask to watch activities. Are they well attended? Does the staff seem to be enjoying the activity as well? View the community event calendar. Do they match your loved one’s interests? Look for small and large group activities, trips or outings. Inquire about religious services if this is important.

    Tip #4: Whistle while they work

    Staff attitude and friendliness are of the utmost importance. Observe the staff interacting with current residents. Do they listen and make eye contact? If you feel welcomed while you tour, so will your loved one. Make sure to get a good understanding of the staffing pattern. How many people would be truly involved in your loved one’s care? Introduction to the management team will help you understand the goals of the property. Is the manager willing and available to meet with you? Do you have confidence in his or her management style and experience?

    Tip #5: Find the great outdoors

    Everyone wants to go outside on beautiful spring days. Investigate the outdoor areas for the residents. Does it feel safe and secure? Find out if the staff uses the same area for breaks. Do they host activities such as gardening in these areas?

    Tip #6: Choices, choices, choices

    The dining room experience is very important to seniors. Discuss entrÉe choices and ask about dining hours and procedures. Bring your loved one in for a meal to taste the food and meet some of the residents. Discuss what happens if a resident cannot make it to the dining room for a meal. Don’t forget to ask about the laundry service and procedures. Who does the laundry and what is the cost?

    Tip #7: Safe and sound

    Safety and security features are very important for seniors. Are the bathrooms accessible and do they have grab bars in convenient locations? How does a resident contact staff if they have an emergency in their room or apartment? What other safety features are available in the apartment and throughout the community? Ask about the staffing pattern to understand who will be on-site to assist the resident. How many licensed nurses or staff members are available? What are the staffing patterns at night versus in the daytime? How are medications managed?

    Tip #8: Care with dignity

    Ask lots of questions on personal care. Look at current residents. Are they clean-shaven with well-groomed hair and nails? Discuss bathing options and your loved one’s preferences. Are the residents dressed appropriately? Are the staff treating residents with respect and a smile?

    Tip #9: When it’s time to leave

    No senior likes to move a lot. Ask about specific move-out criteria. Under what circumstances is a resident asked to move? What type of notice is given by them or by you? In many cases, a 30-day notice may be required.

    Tip #10: Trust your instincts

    Can you imagine you or your loved one living there and being comfortable? Did you feel at ease while touring? Was the staff friendly and inviting? The property doesn’t have to be the most beautiful to be the best place for them to live comfortably! Follow your instincts and your heart.

    Click here to read more articles about Nursing Homes and Assisted Living.

  • 05-20-2011 2:48 AM In reply to

    Re: Article: Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

    Thanx for sharing this useful information. It is really informative blog. Good luck.

     


    Senior Living Options in Arizona


  • 05-26-2011 1:55 AM In reply to

    Re: Article: Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

     Some additional items to consider:

     

    1. Check out the government websites of nursing homes, including the '5 Star ranking' score of the ones you are considering. As you narrow down your choices you may want to look into the factors behind the rankings.  The site allows you to do that. 

    Remember that the rankings are averages of some specific factors not during inspections, and don't include second-hand reports such as patient satisfaction surveys.  On the other hand, be aware that some places put special effort into 'passing the inspection'.  But consistently high ranking may be a good starting place.  I have found that it often matches my own experiences with the facilities.

     

    2. Have a look at the list of USNews 'Honor Roll' nursing homes. Also, watch for other articles and news reports that identify recognized model facilities, like Miami Jewish Health Systems and Hebrew Home of Riverdale.  Many of these rankings start with the government 5-star ranking mentioned in #1, and have the same limitations as the ranking itself.  Even if you don't select one of these nursing homes, just visiting them probably gives you a good reference for comparison.

     

    3. See what the CNA's who are providing the care are saying, in their own forums. While they won't name employer names, you can get an idea of their issues and frustrations. Try to get an idea if the concerns you read about on-line, like inadequate coverage and unrealistic expectations, might be concerns in the places you visit.  Ask about, or observe, how many patients each CNA is responsible for (their coverage ratio).

     

    4. Learn the signs.  Before visiting any home, take just a little time to learn some of the tell-tale signs of quality care. Also, as suggested in the original post above, trust your nose. You won't always find bad news, by the way.

     

    5. Check out Elder Abuse Attorney websites, and avoid any nursing home owned by companies with frequent problems in their other facilities. You may have to do some research, because ownership of facilities owned by large chains is sometimes not clear. One large national chain that has been repeatedly cited by elder attorneys and the AARP operates under many different local names.  My own opinion of their facilities that I have experience with matches matches AARP's.

     

    6. For-profit or non-profit? While this is not a critical factor in itself, you might check to see if the nursing home is for-profit or non-profit. For-profit isn't bad, but just in general you should be aware of the facility's status.  On average, non-profits have paid their staff a bit more, though that certainly varies by facility.

     

    7. Check references, as you would with any care provider.  Besides families, professional care managers can be a help.  Also, many states have ombudsmen that look into complaints about nursing homes.  For example, Florida has regional ombudsmen who take consumer complaints.  While they usually get involved after there is a problem, it may be worthwhile to check with them during the selection process.

     

    8.  Follow-up with an independent observer. Once you or your loved ones make your selection, consider having your own private CNA, RN, or care manager visit. Ideally, it should be someone who is able to identify possible problems, signs of infection or developing sores, as well as observe general conditions and care. Even with regular visits by family members, you will want to verify that all is really well. It doesn't have to be expensive.  In most areas, highly experienced, qualified private-duty CNA's will do this for a nominal amout ($15 or $20 for the hour).

     

    Lastly, Medicare has an on-line pamphlet, and also a checklist.  

    - Gertrude

  • 03-01-2012 9:36 PM In reply to

    Re: Article: Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

    These are great tips and will surely help one make a wise decision in choosing a nursing home/assisted living facility. I especially liked the additional tips given above. I've also encountered some sites that offer advice in choosing a nursing home. Plus it offers other perks as well - stroke screenings, etc.
  • 03-09-2012 11:04 PM In reply to

    Re: Article: Tips For When You Tour Nursing Homes And Assisted Living

    This check list will greatly benefit those who are looking for the best senior care facilities for their loved ones. It's highly recommended to visit nursing homesand assisted living facilities together with the elderly, so that they will have an idea what kind of living space they will have later on. Their opinion is very important, so you should bring them with you whenever you need to visit these facilities.
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