How To Choose a Nursing Home Center
- August 10, 2010
- 227 Views
Writer
Elliot Feldman
Finding a nursing home center for a loved one can be a difficult task. Here’s how to pick the right one.
You Will Need
- Internet access
- Recommendations
- Printer
- Persistence
Step 1: Visit U.S. Administration on Aging office
Go to Eldercare.gov to find a local U.S. Administration on Aging office. Contact them for information on long-term care facilities in your area.
Step 2: Ask around
Ask a doctor, family members, and friends for recommendations. Ask a hospital’s discharge planner or social worker for a list of nursing homes.
Step 3: Visit Medicare web site
Visit the Medicare website and use the Nursing Home Compare tool, which offers a one- to five-star rating system for over 17,000 Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing homes in the U.S. Their criteria include health inspection and fire safety inspection reports as well as nursing home staffing data.
Step 4: Print Nursing Home Checklist
Print a copy of the Nursing Home Checklist — a list of questions to ask nursing home administrators — from Medicare.gov. Take it with you when visiting facilities.
Add your own questions and concerns to the checklist.
Step 5: Visit facilities
Schedule visits to nursing home centers located near family or friends. Ask plenty of questions.
Step 6: Make unscheduled visits
Make unscheduled visits to facilities to double-check first impressions. Also check your state’s health department for information on specific nursing homes, including inspection reports and any complaints.
Step 7: Get written statements from staff
Get written statements from each nursing home regarding services, fees, fee schedules, and extra charges.
Step 8: Select nursing home center
Select a nursing home center for your loved one, and visit them often!
The average annual cost of a private room in a nursing home in the U.S. is more than $70,000.
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