These facilities provide care to people who can't be cared for at home or in the community. Nursing homes provide a wide range of personal care and health services. For most people, this care generally is to assist people with support services such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom, for people who can't take care of themselves due to physical, emotional, or mental problems.
Some nursing homes may provide skilled care after an injury or hospital stay. Medicare pays for skilled nursing facility care for a limited period of time if you meet certain conditions. For more information, look at the Medicare booklet, Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care.
The cost for nursing homes can vary depending on where you live and what type of care you need. Below is a nursing home checklist that you can take with you when visiting a facility.
Nursing Home: Checklist
It is important for you and your family members to visit the nursing home to make sure that it meets your needs, as well as those of your family. A few things to consider when choosing a nursing home are listed here.
Is the nursing home accepting new residents? Yes No
Is the nursing home easy to visit for family and friends? Yes No
Does the nursing home use hospitals where my doctor practices? Yes No
Does the nursing home have the services I need? Yes No
Does the nursing home have a variety of activities I might enjoy? Yes No
Do residents appear clean and well groomed? Yes No
Do the residents have the same staff on a daily basis? Yes No
• Is there enough staff available to assist residents? Yes No
• Does the staff respond quickly to residents' calls for help? Yes No
Does the nursing home have an active resident and/or family council? Yes No
Is the nursing home clean and pleasant? Yes No
Ask to see the nursing home's last annual state inspection report. Did the report find any problems? Ask how the problems were fixed. Watch Sheryl's video report on a nursing home here in the southland.
