Tips to Choosing a Good Nursing Home For an Elderly Family Member
If the task of choosing a nursing home for an elderly parent or family member has fallen on your shoulders, you might feel overwhelmed. It is not easy to find a place that will make everyone happy and also give you the peace of mind that the person will be safe and well cared for.
The obvious place to start is to decide on the area. Ideally, it would be close to you or other family members so that you can regularly visit and assist with problems or other necessary tasks. You will also be able to drop in at any time, which allows you to pick up possible problems quickly.
The next step is to visit the nursing home. First impressions are always a good guide. Even consider showing up a bit earlier than your appointment was scheduled. You don't want to arrive at a perfect picture that was specifically created for your benefit. While you are waiting, you will have time to look around and even talk to some of the other residents.
Once you have decided on a specific area, you can start looking around for available facilities. Popular facilities might be full and have a waiting list. If the move is not urgent, you can try the waiting list at your preferred facility. Don't, however, depend solely on it and consider some other facilities as well. Visit again and again if you still have concerns. Do this at different times of the day and unannounced. People who have nothing to hide will usually not mind assisting you when they have a chance.
Create a checklist or find one on the internet with specific things you should look at when visiting the facility. If you ever had to search for a perfect preschool for a child, you might find you are going to look at more or less the same things. As much as you wanted your child to be safe and happy, you want the elderly person to be safe and definitely happy.
Your senses are always a good measure to go by. Dreary décor and strange smells should alert you. While this is not a playschool, the way a place looks has an effect on the spirits of the people living there. Strange smells such as urine or stale smells should immediately alert you that the facility is understaffed. Continuously consult with everyone involved and take the wishes of the elderly person into consideration. Look on the internet, ask friends or family who have parents in nursing homes, gather brochures and start a shortlist of possible places. Be vigilant, though polite, with your questions and make sure you find out everything you need to know.