My mom is 80 years old and currently in the hospital due to a recent stroke. The social worker says that she is going to need rehabilitation and possibly long term care. She gave me a list of nursing homes and told me to choose one. I don’t know anything about nursing homes. How do I choose one?
The social workers at the hospital will help guide you in your decision making. Typically they will give you a list of nursing homes in close proximity of where you reside. You can then ask the social worker questions about past experience they have had with the respective nursing home you are considering.
Questions to Ask
- If a resident comes back from that particular nursing home, is he or she pleased with the care they received during their stay there?
- Do you get positive or negative feedback? And if so, what kind of positive negative feedback do you get?
- Does the nursing home have available beds?
Social workers will do their best to help you make an informed decision. If your mother was at home opposed to being hospitalized and you do not have the hospital social worker to offer options, then your physician may advise you as well.
Location – Considers your local nursing homes
Distance makes a difference in choosing the right facility for your mother. If you live close to the nursing home, you are likely to visit more often and supervise the care that your mother receives. Involvement in your mother’s care is an important factor in her recovery and should be a priority whenever possible.
Compare Nursing Homes
Nursing Home Compare- Medicare has a site called “Nursing Home Compare”
This site has staffing and survey data for all nursing homes. It allows you to compare nursing homes by location. It also assigns a star rating to each nursing home based on a formula that Medicare developed.
Take a Tour
Tour – Ask to tour the local nursing homes
This is the most important component of the decision-making process. During this time you can evaluate the commute to the nursing home and the environment your mother will be living in. From the moment you enter the nursing home, you should be getting an impression of what kind of environment the facility is.
- Do the residents and staff seem happy?
- Are the residents busy?
- Do they look well groomed?
Stop and speak to residents and employees while you are having your tour. Get their impression of the day-to-day living at the home.
- Is the building well maintained?
- Is there a persistent odor?
- Are the call bell light going off for prolonged amount of time?
Speak to the rehabilitation team at the rehabilitation center and discuss their outcomes with stroke patients. See how quickly and effectively they are able to meet their goals and discharge your mom from rehab.
These are the questions and observations you want to focus on while doing the tour.
Referrals
Referrals – Speak to your doctor, relatives, friends, acquaintances that can give you feedback about the local nursing homes.
It is very likely that someone in your circle or your friends’ circle has had a positive or negative experience with a particular nursing home. Try to get as much information from the community about the nursing homes you are considering.
Once you have narrowed your choices down to two or three nursing homes, then it is time to take all the above factors into consideration. One factor alone is insufficient to make the right choice. Once you have taken all the necessary steps to get a proper perspective, then you can make the best informed decision for your mother’s personal preferences and needs. The selection process does not stop at admission to the facility. If you are not satisfied with the performance of the facility, then you still have the option of transferring your mother.
Conclusion
At the right home, your mother has an opportunity to meet wonderful people, caring employees and friendly fellow residents. The relationships that are formed at the nursing home mirror those of family. It is a place where the socialization opportunities are very rewarding and fulfilling to many seniors. You should feel very secure that your mother is in a place where she can benefit physically, medically and socially from her new home.
