CONT'D~ Assisted living facilities often will allow you to have a guest meal; this practically unheard in nursing homes in my neck of the NJ woods. Part of the reason is that the operation costs per meal (set by the owners as part of their operations budget) is much lower than Assisted living. Food is one of the major selling points of ALs and for the most part they hire chefs. Nursing homes have much more varied meals to prepare (mechanical soft, pureed, chopped, etc) so the job is harder and often they hire cooks, not chefs. So make you second visit to the facilities you like either at lunch or a little later but this one is unannounced so you can see it in real time.
This is not an easy decision or an easy selection process. I wish you good luck and please let us know how it goes.
As has been indicated. the Medicare.gov site, compare nursing homes is a good place to start in that you can find all of the LTC facilities in your area. Assisted living facilities are not listed. You can compare up to 3 facilities at one time. Please note that the information you are viewing does not necessarily represent the current status of a facility . For example, I just looked at one of the faculties near me. The date of the report is 2021; the state observers have just visited the facility this year and it will probably be 1-2 months before their latest report is uploaded. The star overall star rating that you see when you go on the site can be somewhat misleading as it is a compilation of many underlying factors. My suggestion would be to pick just one facility on Medicare.gov and thoroughly read all the underlying reports and the explanation of what they mean and how they are derived. Once you have digested that information and understand what the star ratings mean you can can to compare facilities in your area that might be of interest to you. You also need to ask neighbors and friends what facilities they have utilized and how they liked them. The most important part of search for a facility is to visit it. Most likely you will be taken on a tour by someone from the admissions department. Remember their priority is to fill their rooms; I don't need to say more. Have your list of questions ready, which should include, but are not limited to: what is the ratio of caregivers to staff during all shifts (there is a tremendous shortage of medical staff all across the country now. so regardless of what you are told, that ratio is going to be lower.... less staff means a longer wait for help in dressing, toileting and fewer people to watch to make sure a resident is eating), how often are residents bathed, are snacks provide and if so, at what times. While you are listening to their marketing spiel, use your nose, eyes and ears to access the facility. If someone has just had an accident you might smell something as you pass that room but you should not smell it if you pass again in 15 minutes. How to the staff and residents interact? Do resident's greet staff like they are pleased to see them (granted with the CNA shortage, staff doesn't have a lot of time to chit chat like they used to before covid. but the atmosphere should be pleasant). Find out what's included in the monthly fee (individual phone and/or TVs in the rooms ... probably not) and find out what type if any furniture you can bring. Check out the size of the rooms. Regarding payment, it is always best if you can private pay for a number of weeks, this usually can get you into the facility you like. Since most LTC facilities have rehab (STR) wings in their facility it means they are accepting federal funds in the form of Medicare. This pretty much means they will accept Medicaid also but ask to make sure (you need to know this just in case the private funds run out). If if a person enters as a private pay resident and have a private room, be aware than when the resident goes on Medicaid, chances are good that they will be moved to a shared room (that's why you want to check the size of shared rooms) as Medicaid pays for "shared" accommodations. If you LO has dementia or memory related issues (or there are signs they might be developing) try to pick a facility that has a memory care (MC) unit attached. It's better if that unit is secured (some dementia patients develop a wandering habit). The secured unit should have an equally secured outdoor area where residents can relax in the spring and summer months. Take a notebook and document the answers to all your questions. Try to visit after 10 am; lunchtime is always good because you get to see how the food looks and get an idea what the residents think about (they usually hate it). Ask for a sample menu for the month and also for the list of the scheduled activities for the month. (CON'T)
The Medicare website has ratings for SNF, from closed to five star. I was particularly interested in the resident care rating as that would reflect a staff that cared and did their job. I found a five star one for my brother who was on Medicaid. No place is 100% perfect but aim for the best you can find. Different states have different Medicaid programs that could help with paying for it. The Area Agency on Aging or an elder law attorney may be able to help you learn about getting assistance. The facility wasn’t the closest one to my niece but we wanted a quality place for him. The thirty minute drive was no problem. They were fabulous—some of the staff cried when he died.
I went to the senior center to find a good One for My Mom and got Great advice and a List for 10 of them . For My brother I read reviews on YELP and found him Nice One .
* If you do not know what your (?) intended disagnosis/medical (care facility) needs are, get a medical (dementia/cognitive) diagnosis / examination immediately. You will likely need this information anyway and you should know it regardless.
* Acquire a medical social worker to assist you (they are usually (?) independent professionals that know all the 'ins and outs' and guide you through the process
* Call county senior services dept
Ask friends
Ask people in church
It is the same as finding anything else - ask / research.
* Then: Develop / have a list of questions ready. Contact 2-3-4 at least. You need to interview them. Ask them all the same questions so you can compare.
* Contact the Nursing Home Licensing Board and see if they have been reported, when, why. (I had to report a nursing home)
Bring medical insurance documentation, i.e., private, Medi-caid, etc. Ask what / how government programs can assist with cost.
Have your legal needs in order (ie POA, Will) so you will be legally able to make decisions on behalf of the person).
Yes, that too. And, when intended is in that nursing home, befriend the staff. If they like you, they will treat your intended with more attention. Hopefully. * And visit often * Hire / find volunteers to visit * Take notes of any 'wrong doing' - journal / record / keep good records * Hold administrator / administration ACCOUNTABLE for any inappropriate or situations that need to be corrected / addressed. - Put everything in writing to have a tracking / documentation.
Online for your area. Look up elder care facilities or contact your local council on aging elder care services and call for guidance. In the instances of for profit agencies that help guide you to facilities, they are more interested in those with the funds to pay for their care. They will question you as to types of care required and assets to pay for care, and try to match you with facilities that may best serve you. This is done for a fee and the fee is usually paid for by the facility.
Once you have chosen likely places online, ask for virtual or real time tours and discuss with management and administration their benefits and accommodations.
If you have a senior who requires placement, and who is currently hospitalized or in rehab facility then the social workers and discharge planners in that facility will often help guide you. Best of luck.
Assisted living facilities often will allow you to have a guest meal; this practically unheard in nursing homes in my neck of the NJ woods. Part of the reason is that the operation costs per meal (set by the owners as part of their operations budget) is much lower than Assisted living. Food is one of the major selling points of ALs and for the most part they hire chefs. Nursing homes have much more varied meals to prepare (mechanical soft, pureed, chopped, etc) so the job is harder and often they hire cooks, not chefs. So make you second visit to the facilities you like either at lunch or a little later but this one is unannounced so you can see it in real time.
This is not an easy decision or an easy selection process. I wish you good luck and please let us know how it goes.
You also need to ask neighbors and friends what facilities they have utilized and how they liked them.
The most important part of search for a facility is to visit it. Most likely you will be taken on a tour by someone from the admissions department. Remember their priority is to fill their rooms; I don't need to say more. Have your list of questions ready, which should include, but are not limited to: what is the ratio of caregivers to staff during all shifts (there is a tremendous shortage of medical staff all across the country now. so regardless of what you are told, that ratio is going to be lower.... less staff means a longer wait for help in dressing, toileting and fewer people to watch to make sure a resident is eating), how often are residents bathed, are snacks provide and if so, at what times. While you are listening to their marketing spiel, use your nose, eyes and ears to access the facility. If someone has just had an accident you might smell something as you pass that room but you should not smell it if you pass again in 15 minutes. How to the staff and residents interact? Do resident's greet staff like they are pleased to see them (granted with the CNA shortage, staff doesn't have a lot of time to chit chat like they used to before covid. but the atmosphere should be pleasant). Find out what's included in the monthly fee (individual phone and/or TVs in the rooms ... probably not) and find out what type if any furniture you can bring. Check out the size of the rooms. Regarding payment, it is always best if you can private pay for a number of weeks, this usually can get you into the facility you like. Since most LTC facilities have rehab (STR) wings in their facility it means they are accepting federal funds in the form of Medicare. This pretty much means they will accept Medicaid also but ask to make sure (you need to know this just in case the private funds run out). If if a person enters as a private pay resident and have a private room, be aware than when the resident goes on Medicaid, chances are good that they will be moved to a shared room (that's why you want to check the size of shared rooms) as Medicaid pays for "shared" accommodations. If you LO has dementia or memory related issues (or there are signs they might be developing) try to pick a facility that has a memory care (MC) unit attached. It's better if that unit is secured (some dementia patients develop a wandering habit). The secured unit should have an equally secured outdoor area where residents can relax in the spring and summer months. Take a notebook and document the answers to all your questions. Try to visit after 10 am; lunchtime is always good because you get to see how the food looks and get an idea what the residents think about (they usually hate it). Ask for a sample menu for the month and also for the list of the scheduled activities for the month. (CON'T)
* If you do not know what your (?) intended disagnosis/medical (care facility)
needs are, get a medical (dementia/cognitive) diagnosis / examination immediately. You will likely need this information anyway and you should know it regardless.
* Call senior advocacy organizations (umbudsman)
https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/ombuds/
* Acquire a medical social worker to assist you (they are usually (?) independent professionals that know all the 'ins and outs' and guide you through the process
* Call county senior services dept
Ask friends
Ask people in church
It is the same as finding anything else - ask / research.
* Then: Develop / have a list of questions ready.
Contact 2-3-4 at least. You need to interview them. Ask them all the same questions so you can compare.
* Contact the Nursing Home Licensing Board and see if they have been reported, when, why. (I had to report a nursing home)
Bring medical insurance documentation, i.e., private, Medi-caid, etc.
Ask what / how government programs can assist with cost.
Have your legal needs in order (ie POA, Will) so you will be legally able to make decisions on behalf of the person).
Gena / Touch Matters
Asinine comment.
And, when intended is in that nursing home, befriend the staff. If they like you, they will treat your intended with more attention. Hopefully.
* And visit often
* Hire / find volunteers to visit
* Take notes of any 'wrong doing' - journal / record / keep good records
* Hold administrator / administration ACCOUNTABLE for any inappropriate or situations that need to be corrected / addressed.
- Put everything in writing to have a tracking / documentation.
(I've been through this for a year.)
In the instances of for profit agencies that help guide you to facilities, they are more interested in those with the funds to pay for their care. They will question you as to types of care required and assets to pay for care, and try to match you with facilities that may best serve you. This is done for a fee and the fee is usually paid for by the facility.
Once you have chosen likely places online, ask for virtual or real time tours and discuss with management and administration their benefits and accommodations.
If you have a senior who requires placement, and who is currently hospitalized or in rehab facility then the social workers and discharge planners in that facility will often help guide you.
Best of luck.
https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
You will be able to input your zip or city/state and see all available in that area.