The decision to place your elderly loved one in a nursing home is not one that comes easy, and finding the right nursing home can be a bit daunting. There are some steps you can take to the make your search go as smoothly as possible and help you choose a nursing care facility that bests meet the loved one’s special needs.
- Consider location when shopping for a nursing home. Pick a location that friends and family easily travel to. The quality of care in a nursing home tends to be better when the staff knows that family members will be coming to visit the resident. Also, seeing family members lifts a resident’s spirits and helps them make the adjustment to living in a nursing home.
- Talk to the facility’s staff. Find out how they develop care plans for residents and how they address concerns expressed by the resident’s family members. Don’t hesitate to ask any and as many questions you need.
- Ask for names of family members of residents that you can contact for feedback regarding the care their relative receives and how the staff handles any concerns they raise.
- Take a tour of the facility. Pay special attention to the interaction between the residents and staff. Check the quality of the food service. If possible, try to get an unannounced tour of the facility to get a better idea of how the staff functions when they’re not trying to make an impression.
