Questions to ask when choosing a nursing home

When choosing a nursing home for your loved one, there are many things to consider. You want a place that offers the required medical services, high standards for hygiene, top-notch caregivers, attractive amenities and good meals. To ensure that the nursing home you choose meets your family member’s various needs, you must make extensive inquires. Here’s a comprehensive list, by category, of questions to ask when deciding where to place your loved one.

Medical services
First and foremost, the nursing home has to be able to meet your loved one’s health care needs. Ask the following:

• Is the nursing home equipped to attend to your family member’s particular health concerns? For instance, if he or she has dementia or Alzheimer’s, does the nursing home have a specialized care unit for the condition?

• Which professionals and staff members will be involved in creating and implementing your loved one’s care plan? What credentials and training do they have?

• What health care services are available on site? For instance, is there physical therapy, wound care or hospice care?

• How does the facility monitor residents’ health? And how does it ensure that medications are taken on time and in the correct dosage?

• Are residents routinely checked from head to toe for bedsores?

Hygiene
Cleanliness and hygiene are essential with regards to both the residents and the facility itself. Ask the following:

• Are residents well groomed and dressed in clean and comfortable clothes?

• How many baths are provided per week?

• What housekeeping and laundry services are provided?

• How clean is the facility? Are there any unpleasant smells that cause concern?

Caregivers
The caregivers in the nursing home you choose will be in charge of keeping your loved one safe, clean, happy and healthy. You want to ensure that they’re equal to the task by asking the following:

• Are the staff warm and welcoming?

• Are they attentive, personable and patient with the residents? Do they treat them respectfully? For instance, do they knock before entering a room and call residents by their names?

• What’s the resident to staff ratio?

• What’s the staff turnover rate?

• Do residents have the same caregivers every day?

Meals
Meals have a major impact on the level of satisfaction experienced by residents in nursing homes. Therefore, it’s worth paying particular attention to this factor. It’s recommended that you visit the nursing home at least once during mealtime. While you’re there, ask yourself the following:

• Is the dining room clean and inviting?

• Does the food look appetizing?

• Are the meals nutritious?

• Do residents who need help eating get timely assistance?

Amenities
Think of what your loved one requires to live happily and then form a personalized set of questions. You might start with the following:

• Are the rooms nice and are they spacious enough?

• Do the common areas have a pleasant atmosphere? Do they include desired amenities (television, games, reading material, activities, etc.)?

• Is there a daily calendar of activities? Are the activities interesting? If your family member is room bound, can activities be brought to him or her?

• Are there restrictions on visiting hours?

• Are there private rooms for family gatherings?

• Do the current residents seem happy and comfortable? Do they socialize with one another?

• How much freedom do residents have with regard to their daily schedule and daily activities?

Add to your checklist any categories and questions that you judge as pertinent, then start your search for the nursing home that best suits your loved one’s needs.