Guide to Selecting a Nursing HomeGuide to Selecting a Nursing Home

Guide to selecting a nursing home is designed to help people make informed decisions about nursing home care, whether they’re planning ahead or need to make an unexpected decision. It’s helpful to plan ahead, consider all of your long-term care options and to make good financial plans early.

You can learn a lot about a nursing home from the web and from state ratings. But visiting and talking to the people who live there is a critical part of making an informed choice.

If you visit, ask about staff turnover rates and how many members of the staff have been with the nursing home for years. A stable, dedicated staff is generally an indication of a well-managed nursing home.

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Also, find out if the facility is Medicare/Medicaid certified. This means that the nursing home meets certain quality standards.

Talk with the nursing home tour guide about your background, preferences and needs so she can tailor the tour to your particular situation. It’s important to feel comfortable in the new environment you will be living in.

During your tour, notice the atmosphere and décor, as well as how clean and neat the facility is. Ask the guide to describe a typical day at the nursing home, including activities. Find out if they offer offsite recreational activities, as well as opportunities to spend time in safe outdoor green spaces. Also, find out how the facility provides social interaction for residents, as this is an essential component to healthy aging.…