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Your Nursing Home Shopping List

If you are considering a nursing home for your loved one for the first time, it may seem sort of overwhelming. Different homes will offer different features, making the decision more difficult. Compounding the decision is that it often comes without much notice and you have to decide quickly. Here is a shopping list of things to look for in nursing homes.

First, you need to consider the service levels that a home offers. Level 1 homes offer assistance with basic household chores, like cleaning, cooking, and laundry. Level 2 homes offer more assistance, such as walking and bathing help, as well as therapy. Level 3 homes are for patients that need help with almost all daily activities.

Next, you want to carefully read of the contract. Make sure that you agree with everything that is included and that all family members agree with the services that will be performed. Make sure that the staff caring for your loved one is clear on their duties.

When you tour the facility, be sure to visit the whole thing. Try to visit a couple of times during different shifts to ensure that they have adequate staff around the clock. While there, check all the services offered to make sure that the facility is complete and the staff if warm and friendly.

Once you have done the tour, you have to make sure that you are fully satisfied with the center. You should never leave your loved one somewhere where you are not 100% comfortable with the level of care that they are going to be receiving. Ask for a pricing list of the different services, so that you can be sure that living there is not going to break your or your loved one's budget.

Your senses are the best test of a nursing home. Smell around the home for any unpleasant smells, particularly those of waste and body odors. Listen around - is the place quiet, or can you hear yelling? How does the staff communicate with each other?

Look around and see how clean the place is. Floors should be clean and dry, while bathrooms and kitchens should be regularly cleaned and sanitized. Uniforms on the staff should be clean, as should be the clothes that the residents are wearing. Lighting throughout the home is also important, since in adequate lighting can lead to falls and accidents.

Sit in on a meal. That way you can see what the menu choices are and how content residents appear with the food. Food should be both appetizing and nutritious, and there should be enough staff to assist the residents if needed.

Does the home seem to be a comfortable temperature? Do any residents look hot or cold? Remember that the residents' comfort should always be a top priority. No one should be seated directly under air conditioning units, and residents that appear cold should be provided blankets or sweaters.

Lastly, you want a nursing home that will respect your loved one's privacy. Personal matters pertaining to patients should not be discussed in common area, and staff should knock before entering private rooms.