How do I decide on a specific nursing home?

Doing the research.

Once you have narrowed down choices to nursing homes in the right location and price range (or those that accept your insurance), do the following research on each home you’re considering:

• Contact each nursing home’s Admissions Office. Obtain an application and schedule a visit the home. 
• During your visit:
• Speak with Nursing Home staff. Get a feel for their attitude about providing care to residents. Does the institute practice culture change?
• Speak to residents. Get a sense of what they like and dislike about the residence.
• Speak to residents’ families and the Resident Ombudsman (a neutral patient representative who can honestly answer questions and concerns).
• If possible, attend a “Resident’s Meeting” or “Family of Resident’s Meeting”.
• Take note of your personal experience when visiting. For example, do you consider the residence clean?
• Review state inspection results for any quality of care or staffing issues. Vew all New York Sate Nursing Homes Inspection results here.
  
  
  Medicare’s Nursing Home Checklist can help you organize your visit.
  
• Other important questions to ask:
• What religious services are offered?
• What special foods are offered? For example, is their kosher food?
• What activities are offered?
• What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
• What is the policy on end-of-life care?
• Is there a palliative care program? What does it involve?
• What is the nursing home’s hospice affiliation?
• What are the visiting policies?
  
  
•  If possible, include the family physician and other health care providers in the decision-making process.