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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2005
Illinois
Council on Long Term Care Offers Recommendations
for Choosing the Right Nursing Home
(Chicago,
IL) -- Choosing the right nursing home is an important
decision that requires planning. Unfortunately, families
often avoid the subject until the last minute before
giving it any serious thought. As a result, they may end
up with a hospital discharge planner telling them they
have only one to two days to choose a nursing home for
their loved one. To help families make the right
decision, the Illinois Council on Long Term Care offers
helpful recommendations on areas to examine during a
facility tour.
“Just
as families spend months choosing the right colleges for
their children, the same attention to `doing one’s
homework’ should be applied to choosing a nursing
home,” said Terrence Sullivan, executive director of
the Illinois Council on Long Term Care. “Families
should visit several nursing homes in their areas to
compare their environments, services and programs.”
The
best time to visit a nursing home is early afternoon so
that a family will be able to visit with staff and
residents as well as observe the afternoon meal. When
arriving at a nursing home, the family should ask to
meet with the admissions director who will answer any
questions and conduct a full facility tour. The
admissions director will also discuss the facility’s
costs and explain all considerations regarding Medicare
and Medicaid.
Touring
a nursing home involves much more than simply evaluating
how well it is decorated. Families need to assess the
quality of care given to the residents. Do staff members
interact well with the residents, and do they treat them
with dignity? Are the residents’ requests being met
promptly? Are the residents clean and well groomed?
Do the residents seem happy and involved with
facility life?
Bring
a notepad and pen to write down both your positive and
negative impressions. Taking notes will help you make a
better decision. Also, be sure to talk with others –
such as clergy, friends, doctors and neighbors – about
their experiences regarding the nursing homes you are
visiting.
Here
are the Illinois Council’s suggested areas to consider
when taking a tour of a nursing home:
1.
Nursing: Take a good look at the residents. Are they clean? Have the men been
shaven? Do the residents have clean, combed hair? Have
their nails been trimmed? Are their clothes washed and
tidy?
2.
Environmental Considerations: Does the facility feel inviting and comfortable? Are
the residents’ rooms and the common areas clean and
neat? Are there home-like touches to enliven the
environment?
3.
Geography: Will it be easily accessible for family and friends to visit their
loved one at this location? Is the center near preferred
doctors and hospitals?
4.
Financial: Will the financial status of the potential resident be a problem? What
will happen if this individual runs out of funds and
must go on Medicaid?
5.
Diagnoses: How experienced is the facility in handling the residents’ diagnoses?
Will the center be able to provide the appropriate care
for the residents’ medical conditions? What kind of
training has the staff received on these conditions?
6.
Activities: Does the facility provide a wide variety of activities on the monthly
calendar? How many activities are offered each day?
Attend a facility activity – do the residents seem
interested and involved? What opportunities exist for
involvement with community organizations? What does the
facility do to tailor their activities to the
residents’ previous interests and backgrounds?
7.
Dietary: How much variety is there on the monthly menu? Try one of the
facility’s meals – how appetizing is the
resident’s food? Are there enough staff members on
hand to assist residents with their meals?
8.
Housekeeping: Do you see housekeepers on hand to keep the facility neat and clean? Is
there a consistent, widespread problem with odors? Look
closely at the environment – how successfully is the
facility keeping everything clean, neat and orderly?
9.
Therapy: Ask the admissions director to describe the facility’s restorative and
rehabilitation programs. Is the therapy room
well-equipped, and is therapy being provided? Request
examples of how the facility has successfully promoted
resident independence.
10.
Resident
Well-Being: Talk
to the residents themselves about their satisfaction
with the facility. Do the residents seem happy,
trusting, comfortable and content?
For
more detailed information on nursing home issues –
including legal, financial and emotional considerations
– be sure to visit the Illinois Council’s Web site
at www.nursinghome.org. The site also contains a
comprehensive directory of Illinois nursing homes with
detailed descriptions of the helpful services they
provide.
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The
Illinois Council on Long Term Care is a professional
association of nearly 200 nursing facilities committed
to quality residential health care in Illinois through a
productive and responsible partnership between the
private and public sectors. The Council represents more
than 26,000 nursing home professionals serving more than
37,000 residents.
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