5 WAYS TO INVESTIGATE A NURSING HOME BEFORE ADMITTING A FAMILY MEMBER

Dan Frith

Contributor

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We represent a lot of families who wish they had more information about the nursing home before they placed their mother or father at the facility. Before their father became malnourshed and dehydrated...before their mother or sister suffered repeated falls and the resulting broken hip...before those horrible decubitus ulcers got started!

Well, here is a quick look at 5 things you should do before selecting a nursing home for your loved one:

1. Conduct your own investigation. Determine bed availability, the availability of needed services like physical therapy and speech therapy. If possible, select a facility in an area where friends and family can visit often. Go to the facility and speak with other residents and families.

2. Locate the state or local Ombudsman and/or citizen advocacy group who can assist you in piecing together the different sources of information to make an informed decision about nursing home care. To find your Long-Term Care Ombudsman, go to the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) website and click on the button labeled "Ombudsmen."

3. Make use of the Medicare Compare site. This site is a great source of information.

4. Ask the Director of Nursing or the Administrator about staffing levels. Simply put, more staff usually equals better care.

5. Contact the state agency charged with conducting investigations of nursing homes. This will give you an indication of previous problems at the facilty...regardless of what the Administrator or Director of Nursing tells you.

For more information on this subject matter, please review our section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.