What to Look for When Choosing a Nursing Home

There are many factors to consider when choosing a nursing home. It is very time-consuming, but it is time well spent for your peace of mind and your loved one's well-being. Once you have decided what type of nursing care is needed and figured out the financial details, then you are ready to review nursing homes to select the best one possible.

Where to Start

• First, you need a list of nursing homes in your area. A list is available from Eldercare -- www.eldercare.gov; 1-800-677-1116 -- or you can contact your local ombudsman's office. Narrow down your search by calling and asking basic questions and getting a feel for each facility. For each one, find out the staff per resident ratio, whether there is a waiting list and if they have successfully passed state inspections. Once you have your list narrowed down, you can begin visiting.

First Visit

• Schedule your first visit with the facility's director. You can do an unannounced visit at a later time, if you wish. If you arrive unannounced the first time, there may not be anyone available to answer all your questions adequately. Meet and get information about the person who runs the nursing home; ask if they are readily available to family members and how often the director is there. If the director is routinely inaccessible, it is probably a place to scratch off your list. If the nursing home passes this first tour, then visit again, unannounced, and you can see how the home runs when the staff is not prepared for a formal visit.

What to Look For

• Nursing homes must display their state surveys. Read the most recent one and look for deficiencies. Ask to see prior inspections. You can use Medicare.gov to see the nursing home's quality ratings and state surveys; the Web site also has a good checklist to take with you so you can do your own quality inspection. Ask to see an activity calendar, and inquire about activities for the residents. Pay attention to odors, cleanliness, and staff-patient interaction. Listen for call alarms and note how long it takes staff to respond to calls for assistance. Talk to some nursing assistants; they will be providing most of the personal care to your loved one.

Additional Advice

• If at all possible, talk to some of the residents themselves and to their family members. This will provide a much-needed personal perspective of the nursing home. Visiting the facility at meal times is wise, and, yes, you can ask to see the kitchen. Meal times will be important to your loved one. See if the food looks appetizing. Many quality homes will offer you a meal so you can taste for yourself. In the best possible scenario, you are looking for a place with a friendly, homelike atmosphere that provides quality nursing care.