How to choose the right nursing home for your aging parent.

Placing a parent in a nursing home is a difficult and stressful time for all members of the family. There are steps you can take to choose a home that will provide the best possible care. I have worked in nursing homes as a nurse and as a manager and only a few weeks ago I placed my father in a nursing home. He has Alzhiemers Disease.

Don't be afraid to ask questions of staff, you are entiled to information so that you can make a good choice. The way staff respond to your enquires will give you a good indication of the attitude they have to families of residents. Here is a checklist of things to consider and questions to ask.

1. Have all the nesecary medical and financial assessments been completed and approval for admission to a nursing home been given by the aged care team?

2. Consider location. Do you, or other family members need to be close so that you can visit often or does your parent need to be close to specialised medical treatment?

3. What level of care does your parent require? Low level hostel, high level nusing home, dementia specific unit, dementia locked ward? If your parents level or required care changes in the future, can it provided here or will they be moved to another facility?

4.What are the costs involved in entering the home? Is a bond required, if so how much? What are the fees and exactly what items do they cover? Usually you will still have to pay for chemist, hairdresser, podiatry, outings, incontinence pads (if low level care) toiletries and clothing. Is laundry included or does it cost extra?

5.Can your parent still keep their own doctor? If not who will they see? Does that Dr attend the home when asked, and out of hours if needed? Do staff accompany residents to medial appointments and tests or are family expected to take them?

6. What are the visiting hours and how many nights can residents stay away without losing their place or being charged a vacancy fee?

7.Does the staff employ registered nurses and diversional therapists? Who adminsters medication? Ask for a copy of the activites program.

8.What is the facilitys policy on the use of restraints? I managed a dementia specific unit and no restraints were ever used. They are a sign of poor nursing care and a lack of flexibility in nursing staff or management. Don't believe otherwise.

9.Ask if the nursing home is accredited and meets all standards, and get a copy of the last accreditation report which should be provided on request.

10. Make an appointment to visit the home without your parent the first time and ask for a tour. Is it clean and tidy? Most important are staff interacting with residents and friendly towards you? Do residents appear relaxed and calm or do they appear agitated? Do they look clean and well groomed? Are there activities taking place?

11. Check with the relevant accrediting body if there are any complaints against the home.

12. If all this seems to check out, and good nursing homes will meet all these criteria, then take your parent to look around if they are well enough and make your decision.

All this information should be easily availble and provided to you promptly. I would be wary of any home that has a problem with any of these questions. You should also be given information on residents right and the complaints process without having to ask for it.

Here are some links to other relevant sites that may be helpful:

Comprehensive Nursing Home Checklist Australia

US Medicare Checklist

Aged Care Facility Checklist

UK Homes Checklist