How to Pick the Right Nursing Home
“Our parents took care of us when we were children. They fed us when we were hungry, hugged us when we were sad, and helped us become the men and women we are today. After many years, they may need someone to take care of them. Making the decision to put an elderly parent or other relative in a nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions any of us can make.”
When the time comes for a senior loved one to move into a nursing home, you want to be sure that you’re choosing the one that’s right for them. It’s a difficult and often emotional decision, especially if your loved one is reluctant to make the move. By looking for these key things, however, you can be sure that you’ve chosen a facility that will work for your family.
Check the Location
When your loved one makes the move to a nursing home, location matters! You want to be able to visit as often as possible, and you’ll be more likely to visit regularly if it’s geographically convenient. Look for a nursing home that’s near your home or work–or, find one that’s convenient to you and as many of your family members as possible.
Ask for Reviews
Talk to people who have chosen nursing homes for their loved ones in the past or have loved ones living in nursing homes now. Ask them for reviews of the facilities they’ve used. Which ones have they loved? Which ones did they hate? You may even gain some valuable insight into the nursing homes in the area you should avoid.
Check for Reports of Abuse
Abuses of the elderly, from financial abuse to more traditional physical abuse, are all too common. Before you choose a nursing home for your loved one, make sure you check for any past reports of elderly abuse. This will allow you to be sure that the facility properly screens its applicants and that abuse isn’t common throughout the nursing home. You can also examine the nursing home for signs that the staff is overworked or negligent.
Ask for the Cost
You’d love to be able to choose a nursing home without having to worry about the cost. Unfortunately, the cost is an important factor! You need to consider your loved one’s finances and how much you and other members of the family are willing–and able–to help out before you choose a nursing home for your loved one. Finding one with a realistic cost isn’t “settling for less.” Rather, it’s finding a stable place for your loved one to call home over the next several years.
Choosing a nursing home is often an emotional process. By ensuring that you’ve covered these key details, however, you’ll increase the odds that you’ll find a stable, productive environment where your loved one will be well cared for throughout the last years of their life.
