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.

If your patient has been diagnosed with either psychosis or other mental illnesses, there are special wards for them in facilities. Even patients with severe memory problems such as Alzheimer can be given the best assistance through day to day activities here. Your patient will be cared for by competent staff who know how to handle these cases well.

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.

Let us say that you have already reached the decision of placing your loved one under facility care. What you have to do now is to find the best facility that works for you. With the growing number of nursing homes in the country it takes real effort to find out which ones can really look after for lots of patients.

Consider the location of the facility. It should be not quite far away from the family so that you can always get in touch. It is also better if it is located in a warm community where the residents can live without feeling outcasts. A home that is located near a hospital is a good choice, so that the patient can be admitted right away in case of medical emergencies.

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.

Instead of believing the word that the marketing team of the facility, talk with the caregivers and other members of the staff. By having comfortable chats with them they will give you insights on how the whole place is run. Also take the time to interview some patients and ask them how living in the particular facility has suited them.

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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