Good Nursing Homes - Finding Good Care For A Loved One

Good nursing homes have certain characteristics that a person can look for when comparing different facilities. Choosing to put a loved one into a nursing home can be a difficult decision to make. Many people fail to look beyond the beautifully-decorated lobby area of a senior facility to find out what the true living situation is for the residents behind the scenes. The following are some of the areas that should be investigated when choosing the right nursing home for a loved one.

Good Nursing Homes Have The Proper Staff To Resident Ratio

The most important area of any health care facility is the ratio of residents to staff. Good nursing homes should be fully staffed with physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, dietary aides and nursing assistants.

Each state has their own requirements about staffing ratio according to the number of residents that need care and supervision. One of the most important staff members on the nursing team is that of the nursing assistant. The nursing assistant gives most of the hands-on care to residents. A shortage of aides in a facility can lead to patient neglect. Residents may not be fed properly or may be left in their beds all day. Ask the nursing home what their policy is about staffing should an employee call out.

Senior Care Facilities Should Offer Stimulating Activities

A bad sign in any nursing home is seeing the residents gathered together in a day room and all of them are slumped over in their wheelchairs sleeping in the middle of the day. A good facility understands that residents need stimulation and interesting activities to do. Check to see if the home has a monthly calendar of events. This should include outings, music, hobbies, church services, games and exercise classes. A good quality facility will have a specially-trained activities coordinator on staff to keep residents happy and active during the day.

Check The Nursing Home For Cleanliness

A clean, fresh-smelling lobby area is no guarantee that the resident living areas are also clean and sanitary. One of the marks of a top-quality nursing home is the lack of foul odors in the resident hallways and rooms. This indicates that residents are toileted and bathed on schedule and that linens are changed and washed regularly.

Ask About Resident Security And Safety

Safety and security are of the utmost importance to the frail elderly. Ask the facility how they keep confused residents from wandering away and getting lost. A good nursing home will have a separate wing for those residents and will have push button security doors that need a code entered before they open. Ask the facility about fire exits and whether they hold regular fire drills for the staff members.

Good nursing homes are transparent. They allow for surprise visits, offer tours and answer any questions about their patient care policies. They treat residents as whole people that have physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs. The very best nursing homes offer the residents extra in-house services like beauty salons, barber shops and banking. Some even allow a small pet.

It always pays to check the facility reputation with the Better Business Bureau for added peace of mind. A good nursing home environment can make living out the golden years much more enjoyable.