Helping a loved one transition to long-term nursing care away from their home can be an emotional and stressful experience. In addition, the tough decision about where to place a loved one in long-term care is often made while under pressure and with little time to decide.
You can find the right nursing home for your loved one with a bit of time and research. Optimally, a nursing home should offer a clean and pleasant environment, provide engaging activities and be equipped with a caring staff of nurses providing high quality care.
The University of Alabama’s Dr. Heather Carter-Templeton offers the following tips to help you determine the right nursing home for a loved one.
- Identify the nursing homes available in your loved one’s area or in the area where your loved one will be moving. You can start by asking other family members or friends for any recommendations. Or, you can ask your loved one’s health-care provider if they have advice or if they provide care at any of the local long-term care facilities. Keep in mind that the more convenient the facility is, the more often friends and family can visit.
- Review the data provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on nursing homes. Each year, the CMMS collects data from nursing homes throughout the country. Data from facility inspections, staffing and quality measures are collected. When reviewing be sure to use the Nursing Home Compare tool found at Medicare.gov (medicare.gov).
- Visit the nursing homes that are of interest to you and your loved one. Then, visit again. Try to visit the facilities on different days of the week and at different times of the day. Nothing substitutes seeing the facility. Medicare.gov offers a helpful Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home (http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02174.pdf). A nursing home checklist (beginning on page 26) in the guide is a helpful tool that you may take with you during your visits to help you keep track of your thoughts and observations.
- Reach out to your Ombudsman. Each state employs a federally funded, long-term care ombudsman who works as an advocate for patients in long-term care settings. Your ombudsman should have a working relationship with the nursing home residents and staff and can inform residents and their families about their rights. The ombudsman can help you find the most up-to-date inspection information along with information about any complaints related to the facilities you are considering.
- Try to involve your loved one in the decisions about relocating to a long-term care facility if possible. People who are engaged in the decision-making process and are informed are often better prepared as they transition into their new long-term care environment. If your loved one is not able to participate in the process of selecting a long-term care facility, try to keep their values and preferences in mind.
- Know that the person relocating, as well as close family and friends, will require time to transition to this new move. Feelings associated with the move should be acknowledged by all involved. Frequent visits by family and friends can help with the transition. If you live at a distance, know that letters or calls can help, too. Remain in touch, and stay involved with your loved one. Your continued involvement can act to comfort them while they are being cared for by others, and it allows you to advocate for their needs.
Carter-Templeton is an assistant professor in UA’s Capstone College of Nursing. She dedicates this writing to her father, retired Lt. Col. Chester C. Carter III, who has worked to assist and encourage family members as they transition into long-term care environments.
