While placing a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult choice, there may come a time when it is the right one. It'll help in the event you do your homework and trust your instincts.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the nation's nursing homes offer care to over 1.5 million individuals. Over 90% of these residents are over age 65. The majority of the residents are frail and need round-the-clock supervision because of dementia.
Things You should Know
A nursing home is a residence that provides room, meals, nursing and rehabilitative care, medical services and protective supervision to its residents. While somebody coming from the hospital might require the services of many long-term care professionals such as nurses, therapists and social workers, a nursing home is not a hospital (acute care) setting. The objective at a nursing home is to help individuals maintain as much of their independent functioning as possible in a supportive atmosphere.
Choosing a Facility
One of the first issues to think about when making a nursing home decision is the needs of the person for whom you are providing care, suggest specialists at the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Make a list of the special care they need, like dementia care or numerous types of therapy.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the nation's nursing homes offer care to over 1.5 million individuals. Over 90% of these residents are over age 65. The majority of the residents are frail and need round-the-clock supervision because of dementia.
Things You should Know
A nursing home is a residence that provides room, meals, nursing and rehabilitative care, medical services and protective supervision to its residents. While somebody coming from the hospital might require the services of many long-term care professionals such as nurses, therapists and social workers, a nursing home is not a hospital (acute care) setting. The objective at a nursing home is to help individuals maintain as much of their independent functioning as possible in a supportive atmosphere.
Choosing a Facility
One of the first issues to think about when making a nursing home decision is the needs of the person for whom you are providing care, suggest specialists at the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Make a list of the special care they need, like dementia care or numerous types of therapy.
If the individual is hospitalized, the discharge planner and/or social workers can assist you in assessing the needs of the person and choosing the suitable facility.
If you're choosing a nursing facility for someone who is presently at home, request referrals from your doctor, Area Agency on Aging, close friends, and loved ones.
Other factors such as location, cost, the quality of care, services, size, religious and cultural inclinations, and accommodations for special care need to be regarded.
When you've situated a couple of facilities that you'd like to think about more thoroughly, plan on visiting each one, each with scheduled and unscheduled visits, and at various times and on various days of the week.
As you are walking about, take note of what you hear and do not hear. Is it quiet? Is there activity? How clean does it look? Are the residents dressed appropriately for the season? Most of all, find out the ratio of nurses to residents is and what is the staff turnover rate?
Helpful Hints
When you've lastly selected a facility, you need to know your rights and those of your family member. Before you or the resident sign the admissions contract, understand what you are signing, and don't sign any paperwork unless of course everything has been totally explained.
The admissions contract ought to, at a minimum, include the daily room rate, reasons for discharge and transfer from the nursing home, and also the policy concerning payment of the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short period of time.
You might question if you're truly making the right decision to place your loved one in a facility at all. Remember, you can do no more than your best, and if you've done that, neither you nor your family member can ask any more of you.
If you're choosing a nursing facility for someone who is presently at home, request referrals from your doctor, Area Agency on Aging, close friends, and loved ones.
Other factors such as location, cost, the quality of care, services, size, religious and cultural inclinations, and accommodations for special care need to be regarded.
When you've situated a couple of facilities that you'd like to think about more thoroughly, plan on visiting each one, each with scheduled and unscheduled visits, and at various times and on various days of the week.
As you are walking about, take note of what you hear and do not hear. Is it quiet? Is there activity? How clean does it look? Are the residents dressed appropriately for the season? Most of all, find out the ratio of nurses to residents is and what is the staff turnover rate?
Helpful Hints
When you've lastly selected a facility, you need to know your rights and those of your family member. Before you or the resident sign the admissions contract, understand what you are signing, and don't sign any paperwork unless of course everything has been totally explained.
The admissions contract ought to, at a minimum, include the daily room rate, reasons for discharge and transfer from the nursing home, and also the policy concerning payment of the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short period of time.
You might question if you're truly making the right decision to place your loved one in a facility at all. Remember, you can do no more than your best, and if you've done that, neither you nor your family member can ask any more of you.
Helpful Hints
When you've lastly selected a facility, you need to know your rights and those of your family member. Before you or the resident sign the admissions contract, understand what you are signing, and don't sign any paperwork unless of course everything has been totally explained.
The admissions contract ought to, at a minimum, include the daily room rate, reasons for discharge and transfer from the nursing home, and also the policy concerning payment of the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short period of time.
You might question if you're truly making the right decision to place your loved one in a facility at all. Remember, you can do no more than your best, and if you've done that, neither you nor your family member can ask any more of you.
About the Author:
When you've lastly selected a facility, you need to know your rights and those of your family member. Before you or the resident sign the admissions contract, understand what you are signing, and don't sign any paperwork unless of course everything has been totally explained.
The admissions contract ought to, at a minimum, include the daily room rate, reasons for discharge and transfer from the nursing home, and also the policy concerning payment of the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short period of time.
You might question if you're truly making the right decision to place your loved one in a facility at all. Remember, you can do no more than your best, and if you've done that, neither you nor your family member can ask any more of you.
About the Author:
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