If you foresee the need for nursing home care, you have a lot of planning to do. While we’ve previously discussed on this blog how to ensure that your assets are protected while securing the financial resources that you need to cover your nursing home stay, you also need to think about what kind of nursing home is right for you.
This is easier said than done. Some people who are in your position struggle to think about giving up their independent life at their own home, while others worry about how to analyze their nursing home options. All of this can be overwhelming, leading to inaction or a decision that isn’t in your best interests. You want to avoid that at all costs, which is why you want to do the homework necessary to pick a care option that’s right for you and engage in adequate nursing home care planning.
Tips for picking the right nursing home
There’s a lot that you can do to find the nursing home that’s right for you. As you start your search, consider doing each of the following:
- Visit in person: If you find some nursing homes that sound like contenders, you should visit them in person. By doing so, you can get a feel for the atmosphere, how residents are treated, and how staff engage with residents. You can also observe cleanliness and see the activities in which residents participate.
- Assess location: If being close to family is important to you, you might want to narrow your search to those nursing homes that are close to those who may want to visit you. This can weed out a lot of locations and make the process a little easier.
- Talk to residents: Talking to current residents can give you valuable insight. Be sure to ask honest questions and don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions.
- Analyze payment options: Nursing homes can fall anywhere on the spectrum of expensiveness. And they don’t all accept the same form of payment. Therefore, as you analyze your options, you should make sure you talk to nursing home personnel about costs and how they can be covered. You don’t want to settle on a nursing home that eats up all of your financial resources and leaves you with nothing and nowhere to go.
- Ask about staffing levels: Even if things seem fine during your visit to the nursing home, be sure to gain an understanding of staffing levels. If they’re consistently short-handed, you might be putting yourself at risk.
- Visitation restrictions: Nursing homes have to be careful with whom they let into their buildings and the restrictions that they place on those visitors. So, before you select a nursing home, make sure that you understand visitation policies and are comfortable with them.
- Figure out which services are offered: Depending on your circumstances, you may need some sort of specialized care. This might include occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy and nutrition assistance. You need to choose a nursing home that’s right for you.
Be diligent in choosing the nursing home that’s right for you
Choosing a nursing home is a major decision. You don’t want to rush the process and end up with a nursing home that’s inadequate or dangerous. So, take your time, do your research and only select a nursing home once you’re fully comfortable with it.
In the meantime, if you need further assistance in planning for your nursing home care, you may want to think about discussing the matter with an attorney who has proven successful in handling these issues.