Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia can have an emotional and physical toll on the family. When a family is forced to accept the fact that they are no longer able to safely care for their elderly loved one at home, they need to face the task of finding and choosing the best nursing home to place them in. If you are in the process of choosing a nursing home, the tips listed below will be very helpful. But how can you be sure that the needs of your loved one is given to him and that he is safe?
You need to understand that no one can take care of your elderly loved one as well as you. With that said, despite placing them in a nursing home, your continued involvement is still necessary. For this reason, you need to choose a facility that makes you feel comfortable, and the staff should be accommodating, friendly, and welcoming.
Look For A Nursing Home In Your Area
- Ask for recommendations from family, relatives, neighbors, or friends. Ask them about their personal experience with the nursing home.
- Ask your loved one’s doctor if he can provide you with a list of recommended nursing homes in your area. It is also advisable to ask which nursing homes he visits so that he can continue to check on your loved one while in the nursing home.
- You can also consult the hospital staff because they can help you find a nursing home that will meet your standards and requirements.
When choosing a nursing home, it is recommended to find one that is within your local area. This will allow you to easily visit your elderly. The location is an important factor if you want to stay involved with your loved one’s care. You may also want the nursing home to know that you will be a frequent visitor.
Tour The Nursing Home
Before you sign any contract, you should first schedule a tour around the nursing home. You can call the Admissions Director and ask them if they can give you a tour around the facility. You should then consider doing unannounced visits to the facility to know if they meet your standards and needs. If the facility is not willing to accommodate an impromptu tour, it is a red flag which means you should not consider that said facility.
Are The Staff Happy? Are They Overworked?
It is also advisable to talk with the staff at the facility. You can ask the nursing assistant if they always work overtime or if they work double shifts. If so, this is a warning sign that the facility is short on staff. This shortage can affect patient care.
In addition, overworked staff is one of the underlying reasons for nursing home abuse. If the nursing assistants are overworked, they might not have the patience to deal with the elderly; therefore, they might end up abusing them. The injury attorneys at Massachusetts-based pulgininorton.com warn family members to watch out for signs of elderly abuse in nursing homes. If you or you know someone whose loved one is being abused in the nursing home, immediately seek legal help from credible injury attorneys.
What Does The Food Look And Taste Like?
As people age, they often lose their sensory sensitivity therefore, food is a huge issue. The meal given by the facility might meet the resident’s dietary requirements but does it taste good? Is it enticing to the resident, especially someone who doesn’t like eating?
Once your loved one is in the nursing home, make sure to dine with them in the nursing home cafeteria. This will not only make your loved one feel good, but it will also help you assess how well they are eating. If you notice that your loved one doesn’t eat enough food from the nursing home but will happily eat the food you bring, mention this to the staff. You might be able to request a change in meal restriction.
Citations:
- Jeffrey Smith.”Senior Dance 3″. April 8, 2010. Online Image. Flickr. Dec 29, 2013
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License: Creative Commons
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The author, Kris Hopkins, is a healthcare professional who knows how hard it is to choose the right nursing home for elderly loved ones. In this article, she lists a few pointers for selecting the right facility.
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