Steps to Take When Selecting a Nursing Home for Your Parent
According to the American Geriatrics Society, the number of individuals that are admitted into nursing homes has risen since 1994. Many of these individuals are admitted to nursing homes as soon as they are discharged from a hospital or after a sudden illness.
Many factors contributing to this increase include age, low income, and poor family support. However, the occupancy rate in nursing homes has dropped to less than 90 percent. Many attribute this finding due to an increased amount of nursing homes and assisted care facilities.
Facts about Nursing Homes
Many people are unaware of how much nursing homes have populated across the U.S. In an article by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, currently, there are over 15,000 nursing homes in the U.S. This accounts to approximately 1.7 million beds with 1.4 million residents currently residing in nursing homes. On average, residents spend an average of 835 days in a nursing home.
What to do when Putting Relatives in a Nursing Home
Selecting the right nursing home requires proper research and knowing what to expect. You can also research nursing homes across the U.S. by checking the database at medicare.gov. This page helps you find and compare nursing homes by name, county, state, city or zip code, and allows you to compare and check inspection reports and research staff data. Here’s a short list of steps to take when looking for a nursing home for your parent or loved one.
- Make a checklist on what type of activities and programs you’d like, as well as locations that everyone is comfortable with.
- Research information about specific nursing homes.
- Visit the nursing homes you are interested in and make sure to double check the inspection reports.
- Check references from other residents, relatives and friends.
- Consider consulting experts who can help narrow your search for the right nursing home.
Once you’ve narrowed your list down, look at the facility’s “statement of deficiencies,” which lists the challenges the nursing home is currently facing. If it’s not prominently displayed, in the nursing home, ask an administrator. I would also recommend asking what they’re currently doing to address these issues.
Category: Lawyer's Advice
