Choosing the right nursing home for long-term medical needs is one of the most important decisions you make for your loved ones. If our loved ones are unable to live on their own, it is a tough call to place them in a nursing home to make sure their proper living without any difficulty. The nursing home you choose for them will cater to all their medical and personal needs. If you make a hasty decision while choosing a nursing home, you might be putting the life of your loved ones at risk!
A thorough background check of the facility all the while paying close attention to the following points might be a good plan while reviewing your options!
Visit the facility yourself during the evenings or on weekends
Visiting the nursing home during late evening or on the weekends makes sense as the staffing is usually the lowest at those times. You will gain a sense of how the facility functions in not-so-ideal situations. On your visits to the facility, make sure your senses make a note of all the things you see, hear, smell and taste. If the facility denies you access to make a visit apart from your appointment time, consider this as a red signal!
Staffing
Check out if there is enough staff on board to look after the needs of the patients. Ask the staff if they work overtime or late shifts consistently. This might be a sign of overworking and short staffing, which will affect the patient care and lead to negligence. Keep note of how the staff interacts with each other. If they are impolite with each other, they will treat the residents the same. Do the staffs go the extra mile to keep the patients happy or do they just treat their patients as a part of their job. All these points are minute details that make a difference.
How does the food taste?
At old age, people lose their sensory sensitivity and food becomes a problem. Eat with the patients to see if the food is palatable, visually appealing and caters to their dietary needs. Notice if there are staffs present to help the patients to eat and drink at meal times if needed. If patients are not eating because the food is unpalatable, then bring this to the notice of the authorities.
What does the facility smell like?
A slight whiff of urine is not something to make a fuss over, as old people lose control over their bladder and bowels. The problem arises if there is a lingering smell of stale urine, which means the facility is not cleaned properly.
Activities for the patients
A good nursing home will organize activities for the patients on a daily basis rather than keep them glued to the television. If the patient is bedridden, the activity must be conducted in the room. The patient should always have something to occupy their minds and keep them physically active.
It is important to make sure that the nursing home gives all the services, fees and extra charges in writing at the beginning itself. This way you can choose the best nursing home that fits your budget and provides the best services for your loved ones. For more crucial tips on choosing a nursing home, visit the official site of Nursing homes near me to find the ideal nursing home for long-term medical needs!
