Tips on Finding the Right Nursing Home

CNN Money recently published an article to help families find the right nursing home for an elderly relative. The article emphasizes that the large discrepancy of care provided by nursing homes—ranging from “excellent to downright abusive”—should give cause for families to take the time to investigate potential homes. Helpful tips provided in the article are below:

• Research the nursing home’s official stats. Medicare provides nursing home ratings, and families should do a thorough investigation of the home and not pass judgment based solely on the star rating. Look at the home’s health inspection scores, staffing criteria, past medication errors, and one-on-one care time.
• Follow the “state survey agency” link to gain information from the state’s ombudsman and licensing agency on consumer complaints for particular homes. Ensure that the home provides a unit dedicated to the elderly loved one’s special need (e.g. dementia).
• Take an official tour of more than on home to gain first hand insight on how the staff associates with patients. Unannounced tours can also give families a better understanding of the daily routine of patients and the quality of care provided.
• Medicare will only cover a portion of the average $190 daily rate for nursing homes, so it is important for families to determine how the nursing home bill will get paid. If available, contact the patient’s long-term-care insurance to discover the daily rate covered. Once the patient’s resources have dwindled, he or she can qualify for Medicaid to help cover some of the nursing home costs.
• Some of the best nursing homes have waiting lists, so families should consider getting on the list now, before the need for a nursing home becomes dire.   

See Amanda Gengler, Find the Right Nursing Home, CNN Money, Mar. 14, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.