Finding the Right Nursing Home
Research helps you make an informed decision
By Julie Cones, James River Care and Rehabilitation, Inc., Greater Springfield LIVING WELL Magazine
It appears that when you become my age you are either thrown into the fire searching for a nursing home or brought along as moral support for the other person thrown into the fire. Nevertheless, nursing homes are not something the average person spends their time studying and perusing information on. It’s not fun, pleasant, or any other adjective that you would want to throw in there. But, a few adjectives that we can use in regards to nursing homes are necessary, important, life-changing. Some people ask me, “Well how would you rate your nursing home?” I say, “We’re the BEST!” Not that I’m biased or anything, I do think we are one of the best. But I want to tell you how you can find out for yourself so that you don’t have to take my word or anyone else’s. There will come a time that you will need to become familiar with a nursing home. Many times you will have to make that decision with just a day or two notice. So how do you choose the nursing home that will be the right place for your mom, dad, friend, brother, sister?
Start at Home
The best place to start is at home. You can sit with your computer and explore any nursing home in the U.S. By visiting www.medicare.gov you can search for nursing homes by city, county, or zip code. The site will show all licensed nursing homes in the search range. After that is done, you can pick specific nursing homes to compare. The information on this site will be the number of beds, previous health inspections, staffing information per patient, type of ownership, if they participate in the Medicare and Medicaid program and quality measures. These areas accumulate into a star system. The higher the star (five being the best), the better the home. The website will give you detailed information into what each one of the areas entails but it is also important to keep in mind that quality measures can be deceiving. It is a helpful tool but some homes that may take more severe cases may have a harder time with pain management for example and therefore may have a lower quality measure score. It is a lot to take in and more than we can cover here. Basically, the star score is a very good tool but the star score should not be the final rule in your decision.
Explore Options
Once you have decided on a few nursing homes, the next thing is to explore some of their websites. By looking at pictures, you can decide if that nursing home is a place you might feel comfortable in. Another thing to explore while viewing each website are the amenities that will be charged on top of the basic room and board price. Please note that not all nursing homes charge for amenities but there definitely are some and you should be aware. Some nursing homes charge for wheelchair rentals, all bath products, adult briefs (which can really add up) and toiletries, cable, and some charge for eating meals in your room versus eating in a large dining area. You can also find out if there is a special unit for persons with dementia. These units can be called many different things, i.e., Behavioral Units, Alzheimer’s Unit, Lifestyle Units, Special Care Units and even locked units. The fact is, if your loved one wanders or has behavioral issues, these units may be of special importance for you. It may not even be something you need at this given point but something you may have to consider as their disease progresses.
Site Visits
The single best thing you can do though is to visit the nursing homes and compare for yourself. You all know what you’re looking for, i.e., that comfortable feeling, that connection or that peace that you’re making the right decision. A few things to keep in mind though while you are walking around: do the people look clean, well groomed, taken care of? Do you hear bells or dings going off continuously? It may not bother you for the few minutes you’re there but think about that bells and dings for the duration. Are staff members friendly? Do they appear to be happy where they are? Does the building look well maintained? The décor may not be the fanciest but I have never known a reason that equipment should not be well maintained or that residents should have torn blankets, sheets, etc. A nice looking home doesn’t always mean it’s more expensive it can also mean that there is an owner who is willing to put the money back into the home. Now is also a good time to clarify on the amenities and charges. Keep in mind that there are some homes, mine included, that we have no extra charges. Some homes simply charge a room and board fee and everything else is in included. Another thing to ask about while you’re visiting is how long the management team has been there. If there are new administrators and directors of nursing coming through every six months that may represent poor continuity of care.
Choosing a nursing home can be a very difficult decision, a decision that usually needs to be made very quickly. It can be daunting and overwhelming; and considering that your loved one has probably been in the hospital, with you visiting as much as possible, it can also be an exhausting endeavor. Researching nursing homes on the Medicare website and nursing home websites are good places to start but don’t forget the best way to review a nursing home is to go and visit and see for yourself. Hopefully this information will help make the decision process a little easier during a very difficult time.
Julie Cones is a registered nurse and a licensed nursing home administrator with James River Care and Rehabilitation, Inc. located at 3550 E. Battlefield, Springfield, MO. To reach us by phone, call 417-889-9500.
