| Choosing a nursing home is an important decision, | | | | telephone book for their telephone number. |
| and it is vital to ensure that the facility you select | | | | - Call your state's health department. Ask if they |
| will provide the highest quality of care for your | | | | have information on the quality of nursing homes. |
| loved one. There are three main steps you can | | | | This phone number will also be listed in the blue |
| take to find the nursing home that offers the | | | | pages of your phone book. |
| services, environment, and lifestyle options that | | | | Step 3: Visit the nursing homes you are interested |
| best suit your loved one's needs and preferences. | | | | in. |
| Planning ahead, taking the time to analyze your | | | | - Before you make a decision, visit the nursing |
| options, and carefully researching several facilities | | | | homes you are interested in. This will give you the |
| before making a decision will help to ensure that | | | | chance to see the residents, staff, and facility. It |
| the nursing home you choose will help your loved | | | | also allows you to talk with nursing home staff, |
| one maintain health, happiness, and dignity. Review | | | | the people who live and get care at the nursing |
| the steps listed below as you begin this critical | | | | home and their family members. Be sure to call |
| decision making process. | | | | the nursing home office and make an |
| Step 1: Find nursing home facilities in your area. | | | | appointment to tour the nursing home before you |
| - Ask people you trust, like your doctor, family | | | | visit. |
| members, friends, neighbors, and clergy if they | | | | - Ask about the types of services and activities |
| have had positive experience with a particular | | | | the nursing home provides for residents. |
| nursing home Keep a list of the names of these | | | | - Ask about the cost and fees for care. Find out |
| facilities and look up contact information for each | | | | if there is an extra charge for any special medical |
| using the phone book or internet. | | | | needs your loved one may have. |
| - Call your Area Agency on Aging (AoA). This | | | | - Ask to see a copy of the most recent |
| telephone number should be listed in your local | | | | inspection report for the facility. Ask if the |
| telephone directory or you can find it online by | | | | deficiencies noted have been corrected. |
| visiting aoa.gov. The local AoA can provide | | | | - Revisit the nursing home a second time, on a |
| information about nursing homes in your area. | | | | different day and at a different time of the day |
| - Call the Medicare Eldercare Locator at | | | | than when you first visited. Staffing can be |
| 1-800-677-1116 for information about nursing | | | | different at different times of the day, and on |
| homes in your area. | | | | weekends. |
| Step 2: Find out how nursing homes compare in | | | | - Don't be afraid to ask questions. Find out if the |
| quality. | | | | nursing home is Medicare/Medicaid certified, if |
| - Nursing homes are certified to make sure they | | | | there is a waiting list, and what their visiting |
| meet certain Federal health and safety | | | | policies are. |
| requirements. To find out how nursing homes | | | | Potential nursing home residents should be |
| compare in quality in your area, look at on the | | | | involved in the decision-making process if possible. |
| web. Select " Nursing Home Compare." You can | | | | However, cognitive ability, emotional issues, |
| compare the State inspection reports of the | | | | current state of mind, and physical status may |
| nursing homes in your area and look at other | | | | limit a senior's ability be an active part of the |
| information, like resident characteristics and | | | | nursing home selection process. It is important to |
| staffing levels. | | | | be honest, forthright and supportive with your |
| - Ask friends and other trusted community | | | | loved one during this time. Don't forget to keep |
| members if they are or were satisfied with the | | | | visiting once your loved one has been admitted in |
| quality of care. | | | | order to ensure that he or she is handling the |
| - Call the local office of consumer affairs for your | | | | transition smoothly and that the care is of the |
| state. Ask if they have information on the quality | | | | quality that you expected. |
| of nursing homes. Look in the blue pages of your | | | | |