Putting a loved one in a nursing home is a tough choice, but it may be the right one at some point. Doing your homework and trusting your gut will help.
The Department of Health and Human Services says that over 1.5 million people get care in nursing homes across the country. Over 90% of the people who live here are over 65. Most of the residents are frail and need to be watched all the time because they have dementia.
Things that you need to know
A nursing home is a place where people can live and get food, as well as nursing and rehabilitative care, medical services, and watchful care. Even though a person leaving the hospital may need the help of nurses, therapists, and social workers for long-term care, a nursing home is not the same as a hospital (acute care) setting. In a supportive setting, the goal of a nursing home is to help people keep as much of their independence as possible.
How to Choose a Facility
Experts at the MetLife Mature Market Institute say that one of the first things you should think about when choosing a nursing home is the needs of the person you are caring for. Make a list of the special care they need, like care for people with dementia or different kinds of therapy.
If the person is in the hospital, the discharge planner and/or social workers can help you figure out what the person needs and find the right place for them.
If you need to choose a nursing home for someone who is currently living at home, ask your doctor, the Area Agency on Aging, friends, and family for recommendations.
Other things that need to be thought about are the location, the cost, the quality of care, the services, the size, religious and cultural preferences, and special care needs.
When you've found a few places you'd like to learn more about, you should plan to visit each one, both on purpose and by chance, at different times and days of the week.
Take note of what you hear and what you don't hear as you walk around. Is it silent? Is anything going on? Does it look clean? Are the people wearing clothes that fit the season? Find out how many nurses there are for each resident and how often people leave their jobs.
Hints that can help
When you've finally chosen a facility, you should know what your rights are and what your family member's rights are. Before you or the resident signs the admissions agreement, make sure you know what you're agreeing to, and don't sign anything until you've been told everything.
At the very least, the admissions contract should include the daily room rate, the reasons for discharge and transfer from the nursing home, and the policy for paying the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short time.
You might wonder if putting your loved one in a facility is the right choice at all. Remember that you can only do your best, and if you've done that, neither you nor your family member can ask any more of you.
