How to Choose a Nursing Home

1
How to Choose a Nursing Home
2
Choosing a Nursing Home

• Understand the needs of the future resident.
• Visit nursing homes.
• Check for quality information at the federal
  website
• www.medicare.gov/nhcompare

3
Needs of the future resident

• Special services needed
• Dementia/alzheimer units.
• Mental health
• Physical therapy/Occupational therapy
• Social activities
• Privacy requirements

4
Visit the nursing home(s)

• Consider the location.
• Note the posting of the most recent inspection
  survey.
• Use the checklist weve provided during your tour
  and ask questions.
• Community involvement/reputation
• Talk with staff and residents
• Visit at different hours mealtimes, early
  morning, afternoon.

5
Nursing Home ChecklistHighlights

• Observe and chat with staff and residents
• Are activities held so all residents can
  participate
• Are residents dressed appropriate for the time of
  day
• Does the facility seem clean, fresh and
  comfortable
• On first impression, would you feel comfortable
  having your loved one live here

6
Quality Information

• You can access the recent inspection survey
  results, as well as services provided, for any
  nursing home at
• www.medicare.gov/nhcompare
• Hospital quality information is also available
  at
• www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

7
The Choice is Yours

• This will be a subjective decision, made by using
  two beneficial tools the checklist and the
  quality information from inspection results
  (nursing home compare). While considering all
  the information you will gather on your facility
  visit, the final question that will need to be
  answered is
• Would you feel comfortable having your loved one
  live here and would they be enriched?