How do you pick a nursing home?

Melanie is right, the nursing home I worked at had 3 different shifts & I would visit all 3 of them. Find out what kind of activities they have & make sure you can visit whenever you want.
I would talk to the residents & see how happy they are. I would ask to see their last few state evaluations & check for any complaints or write ups.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 12:56 pm:

Very, very carefully. Here are some things I would do: first, if at all possible, pick a nursing home which is run by a religious organization. Second, as Melanie says, visit during all three shifts, and make certain to visit during at least one mealtime.

Use your nose. If it smells like urine and feces and unwashed people, that is what is happening.

Are people tied or strapped into Geri chairs or their beds?

Do they have activities other than television. Do they have a program where people from churches or schools visit frequently? Activities and lots of outside people visiting are a good sign.

Do you have to use a doctor who contracts with the nursing home? If so, how often does this doctor visit - not just visit the nursing home but actually physically see and examine the patient? A lot of nursing homes contract with doctors who come in once a week and look at the charts but never the patient. If at all possible, you want to use your own (or her own) family doctor - find out if the famiily doc will visit the nursing home.

The county should have an Office of Aging, and in that Office of Aging should be a person who is the Nursing Home Ombudsman. This position is federally funded and federally required. Talk to the Ombudsman about the nursing home(s) you are thinking about.

As Emily says, check the state evaluations. They are probably on the internet - check your state's web site and find out how to get to the site with the nursing home evaluations.

By Kaye on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:29 pm:

ditto ginny! Really most importantly go inside them and look around. If you get an uneasy feeling, go somewhere else! Nursing homes come in all shapes and sizes, some are nice some are not. My other thought is ask the doc for what your other options are. A nursing home is personally my last choice, is there a rehab facility or something a little less intense. Can she stay with you? What about John's sister? You could hire a sitter for her to help out.

By Colette on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:42 pm:

How to pick a nursing home that cares...

http://www.inhis.com/Womens/wellness/letter26.asp

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 02:08 pm:

I agree with Kaye, a rehab facility would be much better. And, nowadays many large hospitals have "skilled nursing care" (nursing home) wings or divisions. This was what we wound up using both for my mom when she was recovering from knee surgery and for a friend who was undergoing chemo and at the same time had a full leg cast for a badly fractured ankle.

By Kernkate on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 04:00 pm:

Also the one thing I found out while placing my mom in a nursing home...check what her insurance will cover. I know with my moms ins. there were only 2 homes that took the insurance she had. So we didn't have to many options.
Also as Ginny said find out how often her doctor will visit. With my moms doctor and the nursing home her Dr. only had visit once a month. Which I thought was nonsense.
Best of luck.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 09:56 pm:

Ditto Melanie and Ginny, and unfortunately, I have a little experience with this.

DEFINITELY visit during the day. Just show up. That's what we did, at more than one.

Check out the activities, menus, qualifications of the staff, evacuation plans in case of weather disasters, the overall cleanliness of the place -does it smell like urine, etc.-, gosh, there are so many things....

I agree though, that a rehab facility might be better if your MIL's injuries can be rehabilitated.

By Feona on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 06:23 am:

John said her insurance is funny. Oxford medicare. Not too many rehab places take it. So I think she stays at the hospital for rehab. The doctor said he would okay it.

That is a good point about the rehab vs. nursing home.

Florine has a fractured hip and knee. Not broken. They are going to put her knee is a brace (Not cast because of the diabetes).
They will give her lots of morphine and if she tolerates the pain and improves(moves around). That is good. If she can't tolerate the pain they will put in pins in the knee and hip during surgery to stabilize the joints. A cast wouldn't be adviced bacause she already has weak muscles in her legs. (I think because of the diabetes?) And a cast and diabetes don't mix?? at her age 79. Anyway the doctors seem to know what they are doing. My mother in law as a very good doctor, but I wonder why she wasn't on the bone building drug before this?

John said she was man handled alot during transport and x-rays and her legs are very swollen.

Thanks for the advice and prayers.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 07:37 am:

Feona, the reason they don't want to cast her leg is probably because it would contribute to further muscle weakness and atrophy. In diabetics, circulation is a problem also. I hope she'll do OK without the pins, etc.

By Feona on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 05:15 pm:

Now they said they are not doing surgery. She has a heart condition, diabeties and is 79. They said she could walk today, but I didn't hear if she did or not. John and his sister are there all day today so that would make her feel good.

By Emily7 on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 06:21 pm:

Continued prayers.

By Kaye on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 06:42 pm:

My grandmother was not casted either. I think it is so the wound can heal better, or at least be watched. diabetics have issues with healing.

Add a Message