“Nursing home” are two words no one ever wants to hear. But in some cases, a nursing home is the best option for an aging parent (or another relative) that can’t live safely at home anymore. Whether it’s a chronic illness or an aging issue like dementia or Parkinson’s, a long-term care facility may be the best option.
But once you’re faced with that decision, the next question is, “where?” How do you find the ideal nursing home to care for and protect someone?
Researching Long-Term Care
Finding and researching options is easier than it used to be. Lists like this one from US News & World Report give you a place to start. Caring.com also offers a list of nursing home facilities, some with ratings.
A Place For Mom’s website offers a search tool to help you connect with different facilities.
Choosing the Right Nursing Home
It’s more than watching an ad on TV, reading the brochures or looking at a home’s website. You need to know what really happens inside a nursing facility before you bring your loved one there and drive away.
The first place to start is checking federal, state and local information on any nursing home you’re considering.
Visiting the facilities you’re considering before admitting your loved one goes a long way in making sure it’s the safe, comforting place you hope it is. What’s the food like? If it’s unpleasant, you’ll be told that they’re “not eating.” The AARP offers ten essential questions to ask before choosing one, and this Wall Street Journal article offers additional resources and information. This US News & World Report article offers additional questions you should ask when researching nursing homes.
A Place For Mom offers this advice:
To conduct a complete investigation, seniors and their families should:
- Tour any listed location to confirm the accuracy of the community description
- Confirm that the community offers services that are required for the senior’s specific needs and budget
- ·Check additional licensing and state audit information.
Diligence is important even in the highest-rated facilities. Lapses in care and other mistakes may go unreported.
Memory Care
There’s a specific genre of skilled nursing home care that’s specifically for residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other cognitive degeneration. Known as “memory care,” the staff is trained to work with people with cognition issues. Memory care units can be an entire facility or can be a specific wing or dormitory of an assisted living facility with dedicated 24-hour nursing care. The design and layout are created to offer a comfortable, safe environment with minimized wandering.
This doesn’t mean that residents should be restricted to their rooms—quite the opposite. Residents of memory care will still need the same kind of activity as other residents, they’ll just need more supervision to keep them safe.
Charleston’s Nursing Home Attorney
Putting your trust in someone to care for your loved one is always a difficult decision. Keeping your loved one safe, healthy and happy during a difficult time should be your primary goal. If you find that your loved one isn’t being properly cared for, or is having problems you can’t seem to resolve, don’t try to manage the situation yourself. Contact The Love Law Firm today at (304) 344-5683 to schedule your free consultation with a Charleston nursing home attorney. (You can also email us or use our convenient contact form.) We’re ready to be an advocate for our vulnerable elderly.
