Steps to Find a Right Nursing Home for Your Loved One

Posted on July 4, 2017

The first thing you need to do is be sure that you are looking at nursing homes in the right frame of mind. Since you'll want your parent or parents to retain their dignity and continue to live their lives as vitally and fully as they possibly can, there are some very simple steps you can take to be sure that you have found the perfect place for them.

Some Simple Steps to Guide You

1. One of the best things you can do is to tour the facilities available in your area before you need one. All too often children of aging parents find themselves in a situation where they are forced to make hasty decisions after a parent has been hospitalized for a serious illness or emergency situation. If you have previously made a choice of your top two or three facilities, you will be better prepared if a parent needs to go into a facility on very short notice.
2. When you go on a tour, ask if you can sit down and participate in a meal or at the very least observe how meals are structured and served. This is something most people wouldn't even think of. If you find the food unpalatable, you certainly would not expect your parent to eat it. It also gives you a very good chance to see how the staff treats the residents in a communal setting, particularly those who need extra assistance.
3. At all times during your tour, you should be very conscious of how the staff communicates with the residents. Do they treat them with respect and dignity? Do they speak about them that way? It is not only the person who is leading you that you need to be listening to, keep your eyes and ears open to all the staff.
4. Talk to your friends, neighbors and family to find out what, if any, experiences they may have had with homes in the area. You should also check and be sure that the home you are considering has a medical director on their staff and on-site. If that isn't so, find out how they provide medical care to the residents.

Senior Living Resolutions can be the perfect place for you to start your search. They have a listing of all licensed nursing homes by area, including ZIP Codes.