Choosing a nursing home can seem like an overwhelming task. If the need for care has become too much for you to safely provide and you find yourself trying to make difficult decisions in an emotional whirlwind, this article if for you.

As with any decision-making, finding the right nursing home is a step-by-step process. But those swirling emotions can make it awfully hard to find and take those steps. Here is my quick and easy four-step program to finding the best nursing or convalescent home for a loved one. 

Step 1- List your loved one’s needs and preferences.

Before starting the legwork to find a nursing home, take an inventory of medical and social needs of the person needing care and write them down. 

• What are the physical needs? 

• Are there cultural or religious issues to consider? 

• Lifestyle preferences? 

• Does your mom enjoy social interaction or does she prefer solitude?

• Does your husband wander? Then, you’ll want a secured facility to ensure 24-hour safety. 
  

Step2 - Figure out how will you pay the enormous cost for care.

If you think Medicare pays long-term care costs in a nursing facility, think again. If it pays at all, the maximum coverage is only 100 days. Most families are shocked to learn only the first 20 days are paid at 100%. If coverage continues from day 21-day today100, patient is responsible for paying around $9,000 for care.

If you plan to use VA benefits, make sure the nursing home accepts them. The same goes for Medicaid. Some long-term care facilities only accept private payments. 

Step 3- Pre-select at least 5 nursing homes. 

To find the best quality care, start with a reasonably sized pool of prospective facilities. You may need to start off with as many as 10 or 15 potential nursing homes to end up with 5 you can visit. 

You need a large pool of prospective nursing homes to minimize your frustration as you begin your search. Some facilities can’t provide a suitable level of care. Others will not have the equipment or trained staff to meet your needs. Some won’t have beds available. Or they won’t be able to meet your financial needs. 

My secret weapon for finding a large pool of nursing homes is a government website called Medicare Compare (www.Medicare.gov). It’s searchable database of virtually every nursing home in the country. It’s an incredible time saving tool and it’s free. 

Federal regulations require inspection of every nursing home that accepts payments for Medicare or Medicaid. The inspections results are posted on Medicare’s website. The website provides informative summaries about each nursing home’s health care deficiencies, staffing and quality of care. 

Step 4- Use your telephone to “pre-screen” each facility. 
Your objective is to narrow down your pool of prospective facilities to the best 3 to 5 facilities that have the staff and equipment to provide the necessary care. 

Before you make any calls, glance at the list of needs you made in step one. Next, create a list of questions to find out how well each facility can meet your specific needs. By using the telephone you won’t waste valuable time visiting facilities unable to meet all your requirements.

Step 5 –Prepare to personally inspect the homes.
To help you stay focused, label a folder with the name of each target nursing home before you make your visit. From Medicare Compare print out the past 3 years reports about deficiencies, staffing and quality indicator. Put them in the folder. (You’ll want to ask the nursing home representative to explain what steps they have taken to correct any deficiencies shown on the reports.) 

Do a quick Internet search for “nursing home checklist”. Find one you like, print it out and put a copy in the folder, too. Next, print out driving directions to the facility. (I like Mapquest.com.) Write the facilities phone number on the map. Having a map to guide you will be one less thing you have to keep on your mind. If the Internet based map isn’t accurate (yes, it happens!), you’ll be really glad you had the phone number handy. Be sure to give a map to any friend or family member who will be meeting you there. 

Now, add some paper for taking notes and something to write with. With so many people to talk to, it is easy to forget who said what and when! Jotting it down means you will remember important piece of information you might need later. 

Step 6- Personally inspect each qualifying nursing home. 
There is simply no substitute for physically walking through a nursing home. It’s the only way you’ll get a sense of the home’s culture and attitude toward care.

Inspecting a nursing home involves 3 parts:

1. A general observation of the facilities conditions. 

2. Interviewing the nursing home administrator and admissions director and, 

3. Conversations with residents and staff of the home, 

Use your checklist to guide you to the questions to ask and the important items to pay attention to. A good checklist makes comparing different nursing homes easier. 

When you first enter the nursing home, take your time getting a feel for the facility. Don’t rush. Observe how you’re greeted. Pay attention to the way staff members interact with the residents. Does there appear to be well-controlled activity? How does it smell? 

When you interview the admissions director ask specific question about the way the facility will respond to your loved one’s medical condition. The answers will help you decide if a particular facility is suitable.

Then talk with the staff and other residents. (These are your two best sources for unbiased information about the true quality of care there.) Talk to anybody who can give you information about the place…from the charge nurse to nurse’s aides to the maintenance guys.

Ask the facility to provide the names of family members of residents you can speak to about the quality of care provided. Don’t be bashful on this point. You want to know how responsive staff is when a resident or family member raises a concern. 

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The author, Martin Sabel, has developed a TOOLKIT called "How To Find The Right 
Nursing Home". If you are worried about the safety and care of your loved one, this
toolkit is a must. Check it out at www.nursing-home-tips.com