EVALUATING A NURSING HOME © 2000 nursing home ombudsman agency of the bluegrass, inc. Finding long-term care for a loved one can be very complicated. Most people are unsure about what constitutes "quality care." To be sure, the Bluegrass area has many good facilities. But news that a few facilities have had serious problems makes most of us nervous about being able to choose the facility best-suited to our loved-ones. Here are some points to consider when evaluating a home: Location - Care-giving doesn't stop because someone moves into a nursing home. Try to find a home that is located where family and friends can visit frequently and advocate for the resident when necessary. When this is not possible, the family should maintain contact with the facility ombudsman whose function it is to advocate for residents. The ombudsman's ame and telephone number are posted in the nursing home. Needs - Each nursing home has a "personality" and it is important to match the personality of the resident with that of the facility. For instance, a person who has lived in the country all of his life might prefer a facility in a rural setting--or a military veteran might enjoy the company of other former soldiers in a veterans' facility. Be sure to look beyond the furnishings. Homes are often designed to appeal to the middle-aged children of potential residents and may not be as attractive to older adults. Services and Activities - Ask for an explanation of services offered by the facility. Check the activities calendar. Is there variety? Are there activities that would interest the potential resident? Visit some activities and note whether on not the residents are enthusiastically engaged in them. Ask for a list of therapy programs that are available and match them to the potential resident's needs. Ask about other services the potential resident may need or want, such as dental care and a barber or beautician. Staff - Effective staff and resident interaction is critical to quality care. Staff should treat residents with respect and concern, regardless of their physical or mental condition and should respond patiently to residents requests for assistance or attention. Take time to walk through the facility more than once. Choose a variety of days and times to do this. If you can, visit the facility late on a Saturday afternoon. Observe the care that residents receive (but be careful to respect their privacy). Are residents appropriately dressed and groomed? Do they appear comfortable and content or are they agitated and crying out for attention. Look for restraints--belts, vests, or mitts that restrict movement. You should see few, if any, of these. Instead, residents needing special supports should be comfortably seated, with pillows or other positioning aids as needed. Facility - Remember that the resident may live in the facility for the rest of his or her life. Examine the building closely and try to determine if it is a place you or the resident would want to live. Is it clean and neat? Are the floors sticky? Does it smell pleasant? Is it noisy with either loud voices, unanswered call bells, a loud public address system, or blaring televisions? Do common areas look inviting and comfortable? Is there adequate space to meet residents needs? Finally , are residents rooms home-like and individualized? Meals - Mealtimes are often highlights of the day for residents, especially for those whose health prevents their participation in other, more physical activities. Ask to eat a meal with the residents. Does it taste good? Are the residents eating the food and enjoying it? Are residents who need help receiving it? Ask Other Families - If possible, attend a meeting of the Family Council of the home you are evaluating. Family Councils are groups of family and friends of nursing home residents who meet for mutual support and to advocate for residents. These people should be able to provide valuable insights into the home's strengths and weaknesses. State Inspections - Review the results of the last three-state inspection which the facility is required to make available to you. Note that all nursing homes that are permitted to operate without restriction in Kentucky (about 80% of the homes) receive the rating "superior". Even after a careful inspection of a nursing home, you may still have questions. Please feel free to contact the Ombudsman Agency (606-278-6072 or 1-877-787-0077) for more information on any aspect of nursing home care. |
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