Choosing the Right Nursing Home
Like any other business, the quality of service provided by nursing homes varies from facility to facility. Due to understaffing issues, lack of funding, or even negligence, some homes fail to meet even the most basic standards of care, while others are exemplary. Choosing the right assisted living facility for your needs goes well beyond simply considering location.
We’ve put together this basic guide of tips to keep in mind when comparing nursing homes in your area.
Start your nursing home search early.
Whether you are looking for yourself or on behalf of a family member, deciding on a nursing home is a lengthy process. It’s important to start early if possible.
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that may require full-time care as it progresses, or if you or your loved ones are aging past your late 60s and 70s, you may wish to begin your search before you are unable to maintain health and wellness at home. If you wait until care is immediately needed, the decision making process can feel rushed and stressful, or you may have trouble getting into your first choice facility.
Of course, sometimes illness or injury strikes unexpectedly, and you may be forced to choose a nursing home without much time for preparation or review. In this case, a quick comparison tool like Nursing Home Reviews can make the process much easier.
Choose a specific location.
When moving into an assisted living facility, you may wish to stay as close to your current location as possible. You may consider moving closer to family or friends, or you may want to choose a metropolitan area that has a good reputation for quality care.
Your first order of business should be to determine which of these factors is most important to you and choose a location – it may be a city, a zip code, a state – or a few different options if you’re flexible. This will help you streamline your search and prevent you from being overwhelmed by options.
Research all nursing homes in the area.
Once you’ve decided on a location, it’s time to research your options. Start by collecting a list of all nursing homes in your chosen area, and then narrow them down to the best choices for an in-person visit.
How can I narrow down my list of nursing homes? The easiest ways to do so are to compare reviews and star ratings, and to take a look at any compliance violations the facility has incurred over the past few years.
Reviews and Star Ratings
Star ratings are a great way to judge a nursing home’s quality at a glance. Generally using a scale of 1-5, homes that have a 1-star rating are considered the worst quality, while a 5-star rating indicates exceptional care and service. While comparing star ratings won’t provide specific details about the kind of care you can expect to get at a certain facility, you can eliminate any homes that fall below a certain star rating without having to take the time to individually research them.
Reviews, typically provided by people who have received care from a facility or by people whose loved ones have received care, provide anecdotal but specific evidence of the quality of a facility. Reviews allow you to consult the public and gain insight into what daily life in the nursing home will really be like, such as the quality of meals, the treatment by the nursing staff, and the types of amenities.
Violations
As health care facilities, nursing homes are subject to governmental reviews to ensure they meet certain regulatory standards. If a facility fails any of these reviews, the results are made public and can be found online using a comprehensive search tool like Nursing Home Reviews.
You can view the specifics of the violations as well as the dates on which they were received. If a facility has a significant amount of recent violations, you may wish to remove it from your shortlist.
Review the nursing home’s website and/or give them a call.
Once you have a reasonable list of assisted living facilities in your chosen area that have generally good reviews, a 4 or 5 star rating, and have not had a significant amount of compliance violations, it is time to do a deeper dive into the types of care and amenities each option offers. Visiting each home’s website is a great way to discover their pros and cons and ask any questions you may have.
You will want to make sure you’re comfortable with the type and level of care the home is equipped to provide. If you have a specific medical condition, ensure the staff at the facilities you are considering have the right qualifications and experience to assist with your treatment. You’ll also want to review amenities, facility size, and floor plan options. If the information is available online, you should confirm pricing. While many factors can affect what living in an assisted living facility will cost for you, having a general idea of what you are able to afford out of pocket is recommended.
If you can’t find the information you need, don’t be afraid to reach out to the facility to request more details. Most websites will have a phone number you can call or a contact form you can use to ask any questions. They may even send you a brochure or other materials, and they can confirm whether or not space is available.
Everyone has their own requirements for a nursing home when it comes to features like size, layout, and amenities. As you do a deeper dive into your research, you’ll gain a better idea of what is important to you in a nursing home. Make note of the facilities that meet your needs, and eliminate those that do not.
This nursing homes checklist from Medicare is an excellent resource to help you get started.
Visit your chosen facilities in person.
It’s a good idea to have 2-3 nursing homes in mind that you are comfortable choosing as your new residence. If you can’t get into your first choice home for any reason, you can move forward with your backup.
Transitioning into a nursing home can be another lengthy process, but as long as you have chosen a facility that is highly rated and practices a high level of care, the admissions staff will be able to help you through the steps from your final decision through moving day, both from a financial and mental standpoint.
Make a final decision.
It’s a good idea to have 2-3 nursing homes in mind that you are comfortable choosing as your new residence. If you can’t get into your first choice home for any reason, you can move forward with your backup.
Transitioning into a nursing home can be another lengthy process, but as long as you have chosen a facility that is highly rated and practices a high level of care, the admissions staff will be able to help you through the steps from your final decision through moving day, both from a financial and mental standpoint.
How to Start Searching for Nursing Homes Online
We can help you get started with the process of choosing the right nursing home. Register your Nursing Home Reviews account today to start comparing facilities, and their star ratings, online.
You can also review violations, start building your list of favorites, and leave your own reviews of facilities.
