Choosing A Nursing Home

When it comes time to be in the position to choose a nursing home for your loved one - your Mother / Father or maybe even your Husband or Wife make sure you take the time needed to work out what is most important to your loved one in the way of what they enjoy in life and what nursing home will suit them .

It is difficult enough being moved out from their home surrounded with all their belongings and memories of family life without losing everything they enjoy in life as well.

Many older people have enjoyed spending time in their garden growing their favourite flowers or proudly tending their vegetable garden for years and if they are stuck in a nursing home without a garden they will miss that part of their life very much .

Do they love the water ? If so is there a nursing home by a lake or the ocean ? Or is there somewhere close by near water you can take them to on an outing ?

Is your Mum or Dad interested in Singing or creative activities with others - maybe they love playing games ?

Compare Nursing homes activities that they provide so they have can carry on with activities that will stimulate your loved one and keep them from being bored and feeling neglected ..

Are you greeting with a warm greeting & a smile as you walk in the front door of the nursing home and by residents or are you made to feel like a naughty school child as you enter ?

If you are greeted by a fiery dragon as you enter then Run - Run as far as you can & never return - How can you leave a family member to be putting up with that every day & really - how often will you visit if you are creeping in like a teenager scared to bump into her in case you get told off .....

Check the nursing home out at different times during the day especially mealtimes .

Are the nurses patient with the residents while they take their time over dinner ?

Do you walk into the nursing home trying not to notice the smell coming from the bathrooms & wishing you had a peg on your nose or is the place bright & cheery and fresh smelling .

Keep in mind there could be the odd time you walk in just after someone has had an accident however most of the time it should look & smell fresh as a daisy or some other flower .

It should look like a place that you are happy to leave a loved one in as you leave them behind so you are confident knowing that they will be well looked after - kept clean both the room and themselves and happy within themselves .

As they are in the nursing home you want and need to know that your Mum or Dad or loved one is being well fed & not trying to sneak their food into a bag to dispose of later so why not arrange to be there for a meal and see for yourself the food that is being served up - Is it edible ?

Does it look like everyone is happy with their meals and the staff ?

When I visit my mother in law I love the friendly banter between her & the lovely staff & am very happy with the nursing home she is in as well as the nursing home my Nana was in .

Spending time at the nursing home will let you get answers to other questions you will have .

Is there help with cutting up their food if needed ?

Are there quick responses if one of the residents ring a bell for help ?

Are visitors encouraged to come by as well as take the residents out where possible for a small trip ?

Are the residents helped with getting their hair cut and other needs ?

Is there plenty of social activities available for all tastes ?

Are there plenty of accesible areas for those needing a wheelchair .

Sit back and watch - listen for a while and this will help you decide on the nursing home that suits your needs and feels right for your loved one .