Making the choice to move your loved one into a nursing home isn’t an easy decision. It may never feel like the right time, but at some point, it becomes a necessity for their wellbeing and safety.
As you start looking at different homes for the ones you care about most, here are a few things you’ll want to consider asking along the way.
Learn About the Different Types of Homes
Normally when someone says they are needing to put someone they care about into a home, they may simply believe there is only one type of home that provides care. There are actually multiple different types of care facilities. It depends solely on the needs of your family member as to what type of home they will require.
The five main types of nursing homes are:
- Independent Living Communities
- Assisted Living Facility
- Skilled Nursing Facility
- Alzheimer’s Care Facility
- Continuous Care Retirement Communities
For instance, if your parent has relatively good health but suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s, they may only need to be placed in a facility that focuses primarily on memory or Alzheimer’s care.
Or perhaps your sibling has physical ailments that inhibit them from being able to physically take care of themselves while needing a specialized nurse to care for them around the clock. They would then need a skilled nursing facility rather than a regular nursing home.
Aside from those specifications, there is for-profit versus nonprofit or one that is privately owned. You’ll also want to consider a few other factors when choosing a nursing home that is best for your loved one. Perhaps you want one with specific religious affiliations or is close to their friends and family.
Take Time to Read Through Reviews
Make sure to do your due diligence when it comes to looking through reviews and searching online for any previous issues that may have occurred in the past. This includes various concerns of neglect, abuse, or other legal allegations that may have transpired. Not only will this protect your loved one, but it will also save you time while going to visit certain nursing homes.
Unfortunately, there are occasions where these types of issues are easily missed. Many victims and their families could have received pre-settlement legal funding while the case is still going through litigation and the allegations and lawsuit may not yet be public information.
A highly reputable website is A Place For Mom, a platform that provides tools and resources while navigating elderly care. You can compare pricing details and look through thousands of reviews to learn about what people personally experienced.
Medicare.gov is another great website that provides the ability to do a comparative analysis of the nursing homes you are considering with ample information on any previous legal issues that may have occurred.
Visit the Facility In Person
There is no way to truly assess the type of facility that is best for long-term care except to see it in person. While this may not feel possible because you may live far away, it’s worth traveling to ensure that each place is the exact fit for what you or your loved one needs.
The sad reality is that many for-profit nursing homes have the ability to create any type of face for their business online. They have the ability to “fudge the truth” through beautiful photos or elaborate descriptions on their website. But until you see for yourself in person, you won’t get a true depiction of what the facility is like or whether or not you can envision them living there.
Take Your Time
Most importantly, take your time when choosing a nursing home that is best for the one you love. It’s an incredibly important decision that you don’t want to rush. That is why we always suggest starting to look for the best care well in advance. You don’t want to be pressured into making a decision without doing the proper research into each facility you are considering so you can ensure you have the ability to find quality nursing home care.