Tips for Finding the Right Nursing Home for Your Loved One

As much as we all like to deny the fact, each one of us is growing older. As we age, our loved ones age so the inevitable question becomes, “What is the next step when my loved one loses their independence?” When in-home care is not the ideal solution to the problem, many people turn to nursing homes for their loved ones. Hitz Home is just one of many to choose from in the area but the criteria you want to look for in each is the same.

What To Look For In A Nursing Home

Researching possible nursing home facilities for your loved one can start with word of mouth or by reviewing websites. Make sure to use reliable sites that are updated on a regular basis. Sometime the ratings of the nursing home changes but it is not changed on every site.

Suggested Reliable Websites:

http://health.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes

http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html

After gathering facts and reading reviews about a facility, you’ll want to set up a tour. Below are some tips to help you make the most of your nursing home visit.

Speak to the Residents

The nursing home administration and marketer will paint a positive picture of their facility as they should. Yet, sometimes the real story will be coming from current residents and their own family members. After the tour ask to have a chance to talk with the residents who are able to communicate. Approach visiting family members first to ask about their impressions and then ask to speak to their loved one.

Look for the Personalized Touches

Nursing homes can often resemble a hospital setting but culture change nursing homes like Hitz Home, look and feel like a home environment. A good nursing home will not feel “cold” and impersonal. As you walk through the facility, the hallways should not look sterile but have personal touches and decorations on the walls. As you tour rooms, make a note of how each resident is allowed to personalize their space. They should have the opportunity to bring in some small pieces of furniture like a favorite chair or bookshelf and they should also be allowed to decorate their space with any photos or keepsakes.

Stay for a Meal

There is a preconceived notion that nursing home food is not flavorful, inviting or filling. This common misconception can be fixed by asking the facility if you can stay for a meal during your tour. Not only will you get to sample the food but you’ll also be given an opportunity to see even more residents as the meals are served up in a communal dining setting. At some nursing homes like Hitz Home, the meals are served restaurant style where the resident can choose from a number of items off a menu.

While on the subject of food, you’ll want to ask about any special dietary needs of your loved one and how they will be handled. Are residents allowed to suggest menu items? Would these be taken into serious consideration? Is there just one selection at each meal time or a variety of choices?

Look for the Smiles

It might seem cliché but smiling folks are happy folks. As you tour the facility pay attention to how the staff interacts with the residents. Is there a strong sense of familiarity? Do the residents and staff engage in conversations beyond the matters of care? In other words, are relationships being built here?

If there is an activity going on when you are touring the facility look to see how many of the residents are engaged and participating. Do they look like they are enjoying themselves or “just there”? While you are observing an activity this is a good time to see how the staff interacts with the residents. Are they happy and smiley or just going through the motions?

If you have a positive experience from your first visit consider coming back again at a different time of day. Day and night shifts can function differently so you will want to get a good sense of how they operate. You should feel welcomed at any visit. If not, then perhaps this isn’t the place you should be choosing for your loved ones.