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Nursing Home Selection Check List 1)
Make a personal inspection. Families need to check things out for
themselves and not rely on advertisements or telephone representatives.
Families should visit homes, ask to see the residents' rooms activity areas, and
kitchen and dining facilities. Are they clean, neat, and well maintained?
Is there any evidence of water intrusion or bug infestation? Would this be
a place where a family member would be content to stay long term? 2)
Ask questions. Inquire about credentials of administrators and key
caregivers. Find out what licensing the facility holds- superior,
standard, or conditional. If the facility's rating is not superior, ask
why? Be wary of any facility whose rating is not superior. Have
there been prior liability claims lodged against the facility? What were
those claims for and what was the outcome? Are visitors permitted only at
special times? Are some areas off limits to visitors? Why? Families
should make a list of questions before visiting the facility and they should
receive satisfactory answer before making any final decisions. 3)
Review state and federal surveys. Nursing homes are inspected annually
by the state regulatory agencies for compliance with state and federal law.
By law, these surveys must be made available for public inspection. Ask to
see the latest surveys. They contain a wealth of information about the
care given by the nursing home it its residents and about the environment of the
home. Have there been problems with sanitation? Bedsores? Infection
control? The survey will help identify problems areas in the facility.
The importance of reviewing the surveys can't be overstated. A recent
report by the General Accounting Office found that more than 25% of surveyed
facilities had deficiencies that caused actual harm to residents. 4)
Check for smells. A nursing home is
a home and should be maintained as such. Well-maintained homes should not
smell bad. If a home smells bad, find out why. Visit again before
making a final decision see if smells persist. No one wants to spend 24
hrs a day in a place that smells. 5)
Look for smiles. Does the staff appear happy and content with their
work? If so, it should show. Staff members who appear harried or
stressed may be working without the necessary support or supplies. Ask
staff members how they like their jobs. Their answers maybe surprising. 6)
Observe other residents. Do they appear happy? If not, why not?
Are they well cared for? The condition of residents themselves is often
the best indication of the kind of care they are receiving. 7)
Know the law. The rights of nursing home residents are protected.
and enforceable under the law. Residents have a right to adequate
healthcare, to live in a decent environment, and to be free from abuse and
neglect. They have a right to be treated with consideration and respect,
and with due recognition of personal dignity, individuality, and privacy.
Nursing homes are required to inform residents of their legal rights and to
furnish them with a copy of those rights. Secure a copy of the Bill of
Rights for Nursing Home Residents before signing any contract. 8)
Inquire of residents, family, and professionals.
Find out from other residents and their families what their experiences
have been in the facility. Have their experiences been positive? If not,
why not? Ask physicians and nurses about their experiences with the home.
History has a way of repeating itself. Know the history of the home before
becoming a resident. |