How to Choose a Nursing Home
By Craig Knapp on October 7, 2021

Choosing a nursing home for yourself or your loved one can be a daunting task. There are some considerations to keep in mind when deciding on the type of facility that will best suit your needs.

The following is an overview of the services nursing homes offer, narrowing down your search, and what you should have on hand once you choose the right facility for you.

Nursing Home Services

Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, generally offer a variety of health and personal care services including, but not limited to:

• Nursing care;
• Around the clock supervision;
• Regular meals;
• Assistance with daily activities; and
• Rehabilitative services.

While some nursing home residents only require short stays for rehabilitative care, others reside in nursing homes permanently due to an ongoing need for physical or mental care or supervision.

How to Research Nursing Homes

When researching nursing homes for yourself or a loved one, hospital staff or a family doctor may be a good source of information and recommendations.

You may also do the following to aid in your search:

• Consider your primary wants and needs such as religious affiliation, physical therapy, nursing care, location, or dementia care;
• Ask friends and family or your church for suggestions;
• Call or contact several nursing homes to inquire about waitlists, costs, and resident numbers;
• Make plans to visit and tour facilities and meet with staff;
• Ensure any possible nursing homes are Medicare and Medicaid certified and have handicapped access;
• Take a list of questions with you when you tour a facility. Learn about the staff and the turnover rate for employees;
• Make an announced visit after your tour. Check to see that the facility and dining areas are as presented, clean, and the residents in common areas appear well-cared for;
• Read any contract and have a second person read any contract before you sign it. Have any points you do not understand clarified by the director.

After You Choose the Right Nursing Home for You

Once you choose a nursing home, there is information you should have on hand to provide the facility to make your transition to protect your health as well as your medical and legal rights.

This includes:

• Any insurance or health coverage information;
• Your medical history from your doctor;
• Your current health status from your doctor along with information about any activities of daily living that might be difficult for you to perform on your own;
• Your current medications and dosages;
• Your health care providers and their contact information;
• Your family members to call in the event of an emergency and their contact information;
• A living will; and
  A durable power of attorney for health care.

Contact an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

When you choose a nursing home, you expect its staff to care for your loved one in a safe, clean living environment. When a nursing home breaches their duty and mistreats your loved one, they should be held accountable.

At Knapp & Roberts, our elder abuse attorneys in Phoenix are dedicated to protecting senior citizens’ rights and will fight for the justice your loved one deserves. If you believe your loved one suffered abuse in a nursing home, contact us for a confidential consultation today.