Post on 20-Jan-2016
How to Choose a Nursing Home
Choosing a Nursing Home
• Understand the needs of the future resident.
• Visit nursing homes.
• Check for quality information at the federal website:
• www.medicare.gov/nhcompare
Needs of the future resident
• Special services needed• Dementia/alzheimer units.• Mental health
• Physical therapy/Occupational therapy
• Social activities
• Privacy requirements
Visit the nursing home(s)
• Consider the location.• Note the posting of the most recent
inspection survey.• Use the checklist we’ve provided during
your tour and ask questions.• Community involvement/reputation• Talk with staff and residents• Visit at different hours – mealtimes, early
morning, afternoon.
Nursing Home ChecklistHighlights
• Observe and chat with staff and residents• Are activities held so all residents can participate• Are residents dressed appropriate for the time of
day• Does the facility seem clean, fresh and
comfortable• On first impression, would you feel comfortable
having your loved one live here
Quality Information
You can access the recent inspection survey results, as well as services provided, for any nursing home at
www.medicare.gov/nhcompare
Hospital quality information is also available at
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
The Choice is Yours
This will be a subjective decision, made by using two beneficial tools – the checklist and the quality information from inspection results (nursing home compare). While considering all the information you will gather on your facility visit, the final question that will need to be answered is:
“Would you feel comfortable having your loved one live here and would they be enriched?”