What to Look for In a Skilled Nursing Home for Your Parent

The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that a majority of people will need long-term care at some point in their life.  For most people, long-term care is provided in a nursing home.  While deciding to place a parent in a nursing home is never easy, it is a situation that many people need to face.  When a parent can no longer take care of themselves or safely live on their own, a skilled nursing home offers a safer living environment with medically trained staff.  Taking the time to decide which nursing home best meets your needs and the needs of your parent will offer the best chance of a smooth transition that improves your parent’s quality of life.

Basic Nursing Home Information

First, unless you or your parent plan on paying the nursing home out of pocket, you need to make sure that the nursing home is Medicare and Medicaid certified.  Not only can your parent receive Medicaid benefits in a certified facility, but it also shows that the nursing home passed an inspection by a state regulatory agency. 

If your parent needs specialized services for dementia or ventilator care, you will need to ask if the nursing home can handle those increased levels of care.  For dementia care, find out if there is a special care unit for dementia residents.  For ventilator care, see if there is an on-site respiratory therapist.

Location is also important.  While it is good for you to be nearby, also consider other family members and friends of your parent that would like to visit.  Balancing location with quality of the nursing home is often one of the most challenging considerations for families.  If you find an ideal nursing home but no bed is available, ask about their waitlist policy and get an estimate of when a bed will be available for your parent.

Safety and Care

When researching the safety and care of a facility, a good place to start is Medicare.gov.  This website will give each nursing home a star rating out of five stars.  It will also show inspection reports, safety and care violations, and past citations for abuse and neglect.  While you should not rely solely on this information, you can get a good idea of places you might want to avoid. 

Staffing is important for the level of attention each resident will receive.  The nurse and CNA to resident ratio is a key fact to know at each nursing home.  However, you should also find out if there are fluctuations in the number of staff available during the day, at night, and on weekends.  Further, ask about what hospital the nursing home has an arrangement with.  This will be where your parent is sent in case of an emergency. 

It is highly recommended that you tour every nursing home you are considering at least once.  The appearance of the nursing home and its residents is a good measurement of the quality of care that is provided.  You should note whether residents appear clean, well groomed, and appropriately dressed.  You should also note the nursing home’s overall appearance, cleanliness, and whether there are any unpleasant odors.

Menus and Food

While menu options and food are one of the most complained about issues at nursing homes, it is commonly overlooked when deciding on a nursing home.  Before making a decision, ask if residents have a choice of food items at each meal.  Ask to see a menu and check if the food offered would work for your parent.  Menus are often given out monthly so you will be able to see a months’ worth of options.  If your parent has dietary needs or restrictions, ask how they will accommodate those needs.  Perhaps most important for residents that struggle with daily activities, make sure staff will stay and help your parent eat and drink at mealtimes as needed.  Failure to have staff readily available to help at mealtime can cause unhealthy weight loss and malnutrition.

Residents’ Rooms

You should first ask about your parent being allowed to have personal belongings and furniture in their room.  Being allowed to customize your parent’s room will make it feel more like home.  On your visit, be sure to check a room for adequate storage space, windows, and amenities.  Clarify what all comes with a resident’s room.  Not all places provide a television or dresser.  Finally, ask about how roommates are chosen and how issues with roommates are handled.

Activities

Activities will be essential to your parent’s enjoyment of the nursing home.  Depending on your parent’s condition, make sure activities are also offered for residents that cannot easily leave their room.  On your visit, check for an area dedicated to activities.  Further, make sure there are outdoor areas for residents to enjoy.  Some nursing homes even have a shuttle bus to take residents to local events or popular spots.  If your parent is still able to go out, ask about policies for your parent to be able to leave the facility for a few hours to be with family and friends outside of the nursing home.   

While placing a parent in a nursing home is a difficult process, if the nursing home is a good fit, it can greatly improve your parent’s quality of life.  Further, you can have peace of mind knowing that your parent is in a safer environment.  For me, providing quality service involves having knowledge of the communities and facilities my clients use.  If you are struggling to decide on a nursing home or would like more information, please give me a call at 800-841-0065 or email me at dakota@warnerlawfirmpllc.com.