How Spot Good Nursing Homes

By Tracie Knight


A nursing home is a facility for people with illness or disability, particularly for older patients. Nursing homes have skilled nurses and competent care givers who will be able to take care of our elderly better than we will be able to. We may feel guilty about leaving our loved ones under the care of strangers, but sometimes putting patients into these facilities will be beneficial to both the family and the patient.

Deliberate the matter among other family members first before deciding to place an elderly into a home. First of all it is your responsibility to take care of family members, not of total strangers. One good reason is deteriorating health. If the patient can not do even simple activities such as dressing himself or herself, then it is time to consider a skilled facility.

Most facilities have special care units for people with collapsing memory. If your patient has Alzheimer disease, he or she will be cred for here. People with metal problems such as psychosis or anxiety can also be placed in a home.

If your loved one needs medical attention twenty four hours a day and your funds are running low, a good nursing home is an option. You will not have to pay immensely high bills than if you had placed the patient in a hospital ward. You can be assured of quality medical care for your patient without having to spend beyond your means.

When at last you and the rest of the family has decided on nursing home services, the problem you will have to face now is how to determine which facility renders the best possible care and attention. With thousands of facilities all over, you will have to make a wise choice for a home. Before choosing a worthy facility, take note of the following.

Location. Look at the state of the building. Check if the structure is architecturally sound and has emergency exits. See to it that it is well kept and has a homey ambiance. Check the rooms and living quarters if they indeed provide comfort and relaxation.

Visit the building to see its condition. A good home should not reek of urine nor smell too much of air fresheners. It should have a homey feeling so that the elderly will be able to adjust easily. The best time to visit is during mealtimes, where you will see firsthand what they usually serve their wards, and during the weekend when there are no managers present. This way you will get the real picture, not the advertised one.

Take the time to talk with residents. Take note of their disposition. Abundant smiles from patients are usually a good sign. Ask the staff members how long they have been working in the community. Longer years of service rendered usually means that the management is doing their job well.

Sending the ones you love away is never easy. Sometimes you will need to battle with feelings of guilt and indecision. Keep in mind, though, that sometimes a home could be a good option. Just make sure that the home where you entrust the safekeeping of your beloved will be able to fulfill the needs of your patient while they are not with you.




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