VeeSite.Com Blog

Choosing Nursing Home

When we’re involved in personal injury matter, we need to find the best nursing home.

Nursing facilities enable patients suffering from illnesses and injuries to recover in an environment outside of a hospital. They also care for residents who have chronic illnesses and long-term care needs, many of whom will never be able to recover and return home. For those patients falling within the latter category, next steps often include hospice, return to a hospital or possibly remaining in the facility until end-of-life.

For a large number of chronic care recipients, long-term care becomes a process that evolves as mental and physical capacities decline. Skilled nursing facilities are equipped to care for patients with disabilities, medical difficulties and in some instances behavioral challenges that other providers are unable to handle effectively. Due to the increasing demand for medical services created by aging demographics, many other options now exist for patient care prior to entrance to a nursing home. Thus, the trends for nursing facility residents include increase in age and decrease in wellness.

So how to choose the best nursing homes?

Choosing a humane, well-run nursing homes can be one of the most important decisions you’ll make in life. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most rushed. Even when good information is available, you may have little time to digest it, especially if a hospital discharge planner says your relative must be out in 24 hours. He or she will often suggest a particular nursing home in the area, but you may not know whether the home is your best choice or a very bad one.

If you find yourself in this situation, first know that you can use your appeal rights under Medicare to extend the hospital stay for two days. That will buy you additional time. These steps will help:

1.   Get the names of local facilities.

2.   Consult our Nursing Home Quality Monitor.

3.   Check the ownership.

4.   Check with the local ombudsman.

5.   Don’t depend on the federal Web site.

6.   Visit the homes.

7.   Visit the homes again.

8.   Ask about top-level turnover.

9.   Talk to the administrator.

or

Use Gilbert Guide (Nursing Homes).