Website design By BotEap.comHAS nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility) is for older retirees who can no longer cope with the tasks of daily living. It has trained nursing staff and caregivers with experience in caring for the elderly.

Website design By BotEap.comThe services provided by a nursing home are comprehensive and, in addition to nursing care, include: 24-hour supervision and assistance with daily tasks, as well as all meals and recreational activities.

Website design By BotEap.comSome people enter a skilled nursing facility as an intermediate step on their way home from a hospital stay. They are there for only a week or two until they fully recover from whatever surgical procedures they have undergone.

Website design By BotEap.comThese facilities are also used to give respite to family caregivers who spend their time caring for an elderly parent. The father spends a week or more in a safe and professional environment where the person who cares for him in his own home enjoys a vacation.

Website design By BotEap.comHowever, most nursing home residents live there permanently because they have physical or mental illnesses that require constant care and supervision. This is the case of my mother.

Website design By BotEap.comChoosing a nursing home can be very stressful for any retiree, as it was for my mother, who was unfortunately physically and mentally disabled.

Website design By BotEap.comSince a skilled nursing facility is likely to be your last permanent home on this planet, you must first plan ahead and consider all of your actions for the long term. This was not possible for my mother. She had always stated her opposition to entering a nursing home.

Website design By BotEap.comHe had a fall, one of many, and ended up in the hospital. Until then she had refused to consider entering a nursing home. But his doctor didn’t want to discharge him and return to his own home, so he had no choice.

Website design By BotEap.comFortunately, my brothers and I had done a lot of research over the past few years…since we knew from his failing physical health and increasingly apparent dementia that going to a nursing home was inevitable.

Website design By BotEap.comWe had already researched the local nursing homes and knew which one we wanted for Mom. Luckily, there was a vacancy.

Website design By BotEap.comThis article is based on our experiences searching for a suitable home for our mom.

Website design By BotEap.comDeciding your best option

Website design By BotEap.comBeing affected is not something sudden. It is happening gradually as we age. We become less able to care for ourselves or our homes.

Website design By BotEap.comIt was heartbreaking to witness my mother’s slow 5-year transition from a vibrant, highly outgoing, highly energetic woman to a hunched-over, shuffling old lady.

Website design By BotEap.comEntry into a nursing home is only necessary in the last stage of this weakening process. In the early stages you have several options. These include:

1. daily assistance from a caregiver who comes several times a week or every day to help you with your daily tasks
2. Website design By BotEap.comhaving a resident caregiveroften a retired nurse, who can help with getting in and out of bed, washing, dressing, etc., as well as cooking, cleaning, and keeping the house tidy
3. independent living communities where you live in an apartment complex with on-site facilities such as banks, gyms, fitness programs, a beauty salon and barbershop, a communal dining room, and even a doctor who makes regular visits
4. assisted living communities for older people who need more support than they can get by living independently but who don’t need complex medical care on a daily basis…they usually offer meals, cleaning, and planned activities, but not medical services.

Website design By BotEap.comBefore you choose a nursing home, take some time to consider whether any of these options might be more suitable for now.

Website design By BotEap.comMy mother went through the first two of these stages for several years before her disabilities prevented her from staying home.

Website design By BotEap.comSteps to choose a nursing home

Website design By BotEap.comWhen you make the decision yourself, you need to have the support of your family and close friends in making your decision.

Website design By BotEap.comBring them to the weighing options process to help you make your final decision. Our entire family made the decision on behalf of our mother.

Website design By BotEap.comConsider your needs in the last years of your life (nursing care, physical therapy, special care needs, religious needs, physical decline, dementia care, etc.) when evaluating your options.

Website design By BotEap.comOnce you have finally decided that you want or should enter a nursing home, here are the three basic steps to follow:

Website design By BotEap.comStep one

Website design By BotEap.comDo a thorough Google search and list all the nursing homes in our area. We ask for recommendations from other seniors you know and trust.

Website design By BotEap.comsecond step

Website design By BotEap.comResearch the quality of the nursing homes you are considering:

• Website design By BotEap.comCheck their websites for the facilities they offer.
• Website design By BotEap.comCheck the inspection reports carried out by the regulatory agency for nursing homes, which you can find on the nursing homes’ own websites or on the regulatory agency’s website.
• Website design By BotEap.comType the name of individual nursing homes into Google and search for reviews from residents or others.

Website design By BotEap.comNext, list the houses in order of preference, that is, create a short list.

Website design By BotEap.comStep three

Website design By BotEap.comVisit nursing homes on the short list.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you’re checking out the houses yourself, looking for a place to spend your final years, I’d suggest bringing a family member or close friend.

Website design By BotEap.comOr have someone you trust do the visit on your behalf.

Website design By BotEap.comTours provide an opportunity to see residents, staff, and the home environment.

Website design By BotEap.comNote:

• Website design By BotEap.comBefore your visit, consider and decide what is important to you: nursing care, meals, therapy, a religious dimension, location near family and friends, etc.
• Website design By BotEap.comCall ahead to make sure you’re received
• Website design By BotEap.comAsk questions and make sure you get clear answers.
• Website design By BotEap.comAsk the staff to explain anything you don’t understand.
• Website design By BotEap.comAsk who to call if you have more questions
• Website design By BotEap.comGet a copy of your standard contract so you can read it carefully later.

Website design By BotEap.comTake the checklist below with you to help you.

Website design By BotEap.comTake a second surprise visit to the facilities without calling first. Try to arrive in the late morning or midday for this visit, so you can see the residents when they are going about their daily routines or at meal times.

Website design By BotEap.comI hope you find these tips useful.

Website design By BotEap.comMy brothers and I undertook all of these investigations on behalf of our mother, and as my mother’s attorney, I made the final decision based on what I knew of her wishes.

Website design By BotEap.comI can tell you now that it is a lot of work and a lot of time. However, it must be done correctly if the retiree is to be happy in his final home.

Website design By BotEap.comHere’s a checklist I’ve designed to help you when you visit a nursing home.

Website design By BotEap.com—–

Website design By BotEap.comNursing Home Checklist

Website design By BotEap.comNursing Home Name: _____________________________________________________________

Website design By BotEap.comDate of first visit: _______________________________________________________________

Website design By BotEap.comWho visited: _____________________________________________________________

Website design By BotEap.comDate of second visit: _____________________________________________________________

Website design By BotEap.comWho visited: _____________________________________________________________

Website design By BotEap.comBasic information

Website design By BotEap.comIs the nursing home registered with the appropriate regulatory body?

Website design By BotEap.comYes

Website design By BotEap.comNope

Website design By BotEap.comComments

Website design By BotEap.comHave you reviewed the inspection reports?

Website design By BotEap.comIs there a brochure available?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the home have the necessary level of care?

Website design By BotEap.comIs there a bed available?

Website design By BotEap.comIs there a waiting list?

Website design By BotEap.comCan the nursing home provide care for people with special needs, eg, dementia, disability, residents who are wandering?

Website design By BotEap.comIs the nursing home close enough for friends and family to visit?

Website design By BotEap.comIs the nursing home clean and well maintained?

Website design By BotEap.comHave you checked corners and carpets for embedded dirt?

Website design By BotEap.comAre the noise levels in the common areas comfortable?

Website design By BotEap.comIs the temperature in the nursing home comfortable?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat are the arrangements for visits from family and friends?

Website design By BotEap.comAre there areas where residents can meet visitors in private?

Website design By BotEap.comAre care plan meetings with residents and family members held at convenient times, whenever possible?

Website design By BotEap.comAre residents allowed to make decisions about their daily routines?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes each resident have storage space?

Website design By BotEap.comAre there smoke detectors in the rooms and hallways?

Website design By BotEap.comAre there policies and procedures to protect residents’ possessions?

Website design By BotEap.comIs the nursing home odour-free?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the nursing home accept residents who smoke?

Website design By BotEap.comAre there smoking regulations and are they acceptable?

Website design By BotEap.comclinical care

Website design By BotEap.comYes

Website design By BotEap.comNope

Website design By BotEap.comHow

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is the household management structure?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the home provide therapy services?

Website design By BotEap.comAre podiatry services provided?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat medical arrangements exist?

Website design By BotEap.comUnder what circumstances does the center call the family or doctor?

Website design By BotEap.comHow are medical emergencies handled?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the nursing home have a policy on self-medication?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat are the arrangements to ensure that assessed health needs are reviewed and met?

Website design By BotEap.comStaff

Website design By BotEap.comYes

Website design By BotEap.comNope

Website design By BotEap.comComments

Website design By BotEap.comIs the relationship between staff and residents warm, polite and respectful?

Website design By BotEap.comDo all staff wear name badges?

Website design By BotEap.comDo staff actively interact with residents?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the nursing home do background checks on all staff?

Website design By BotEap.comAre personnel numbers adequate?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is the ratio of staff to resident?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is the ratio of skilled nurses to residents?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is the ratio of caregivers to residents?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the home provide ongoing professional learning and training for staff?

Website design By BotEap.comMenus and Food

Website design By BotEap.comDo residents have a choice of food at each meal?

Website design By BotEap.comAre special diets provided?

Website design By BotEap.comAre there menus available for you to view?

Website design By BotEap.comDo staff help residents eat and drink at meals if needed?

Website design By BotEap.comIs the dining room attractive, cheerful and comfortable?

Website design By BotEap.comSocial activities

Website design By BotEap.comIs there a variety of social, cultural and educational activities?

Website design By BotEap.comAre residents free to choose to participate?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the nursing home offer the religious or cultural support you need?

Website design By BotEap.comAre arrangements made to accommodate religious worship?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the staff offer individual activities for residents who are confined to bed?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the nursing home have outdoor areas that residents can use?

Website design By BotEap.comDoes the staff help the residents to go out?

Website design By BotEap.comAre trips abroad planned?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is done for parties and birthdays?

Website design By BotEap.comIs there a neighborhood committee?

Website design By BotEap.comFinance

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is and what is not included in the weekly or monthly rate?

Website design By BotEap.comIs a deposit required?

Website design By BotEap.comAre payment plans available?