Medical Keywords - Everything you need to know about health.

Making a Nursing Home Comparison

Finding the right nursing home for you is easy if you know how to do it right, and provided that there is more than one in your area. However, watch out for nursing homes that are only just a little better than their competitors, as it might just be a little better than the worst.

If you are looking for information and feedback on nursing homes in your area, the doctor for the residents is a good place to start. His or her office will work closely with the staff of the nursing home on everything from appointments to medications to treatment of medical conditions. Your loved one's doctor's staff may also be able to provide you with good recommendations.

There are also online websites that can assist you with comparing nursing homes. They can give you quick and easy access to inspection information, legal cases, and complaints that have been made against the nursing home. If you are unable to find information on your particular nursing home, ask the staff for copies of these reports.

While these reports can be a helpful tool, personal interviews with the residents, staff, and family members will be even more useful. Keep in mind that opinions are based largely on their perceptions, and while some seniors may consider poor cooking to be a form of abuse, others will silently suffer from the real thing.

Talking with the employees can give you and idea of what they like and do not like about the company, plus their attitude will directly affect the type of care that they give the residents. In general, the happier the nurses and staff are, the better care the residents will receive. Ask them how often they have to do someone else's job, and judge their reactions. You should quickly get an idea of the attitude that they have for their job and coworkers.

When asking about programs and care from the residents, be sure to ask specific questions. For instance, inquiring about the frequency of physical therapy and the types of exercises will give you a better answer than asking them how they like it. Asking them how they like it can elicit a negative response even if the care is good simply because the resident does not like the nurse or is uncomfortable doing the exercise. Asking specific questions can keep the conversation on task and help to avoid a long-winded rant that fails to give you much information.

The bottom line in comparing nursing homes is to take the time to visit them yourself. That way you will get the most accurate picture of how they operate. While you are there, take the time to ask plenty of questions, both from the staff and the residents and thief families. Once you think you have narrowed your list down to a location or two, do the background information to look up violations and complaints. Then, even once you have made your decision, make sure to check on your loved one frequently to see that they are comfortable and happy.