Sometimes, an elderly parent's medical needs can overwhelm their loved ones, making a nursing home the best solution for ongoing care.  Although the process of selecting a long term care facility for a family member can seem quite daunting, there are some methods for identifying and evaluating nursing homes.  Some factors to consider include the location of the home, its participation in the Medicare programs, its compliance with public standards, and whether its services meet your needs and desires.

As you select a home for your loved one, it is important to remember that experienced, professional caregivers understand your concerns and want to make the transition as positive as possible.  Also, try to involve the prospective resident in the selection process as much as you can.

It is also important to understand the Types of Nursing Homes available as well as to review Pennsylvania Nursing Home Inspections.  For information on how to pay for care, visit our Nursing Home Finances page.

There are many resources for information about nursing facilities including:

• Discharge planner (hospital)
• Social workers
• Geriatric case manager
• State affiliate of the American Health Care Association
• Local medical society
• State or local Office on Aging
• State long term care ombudsman program or health department
• The Medicare web site
• Minister, priest, rabbi, or other spiritual advisers in your community
• Friends or neighbors who have had direct experiences with local nursing facilities
• Internet sites of individual nursing homes

Location

It is important to select a nursing home that is close and convenient to the people who will be visiting the resident most often.  Residents who have frequent visitors often are happier and healthier from the attention received, and tend to receive a higher quality of care.  When family members and friends are close enough to visit frequently, they can monitor the resident’s condition, participate in care planning, and respond quickly to emergencies.

Quality

Nursing homes are inspected annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  The Department of Health has been given the responsibility of inspecting Pennsylvania’s nursing homes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a branch of the federal government.  These inspections are called surveys.  The Department of Health conducts surveys in nursing homes to make sure they are following state and federal regulations.  Use the inspection information, along with your own observations and opinions of those you trust, to determine the quality of the nursing homes under consideration.  Nursing homes are required to post their most recent inspection report in a public area, so look for these reports during your visits to get additional information.  For more information, please visit our Pennsylvania Nursing Home Inspections page.

Special Needs

Always seek a nursing home that can meet any special care needs your loved one may have.  For example, some residents need specialized respiratory care, such as a ventilator, that is only available at certain facilities.  Or an individual may need extra supervision and assistance due to behaviors associated with dementia.  Ask detailed questions to make sure facilities under consideration are currently able to provide the necessary care. For more information, please visit our Types of Nursing Homes page.

Personal Visits

After gathering information, choose at least three facilities that offer the desired services and location.  Then, visit the potential nursing homes at different times of the day and night to get a better sense of the facility.  The most important thing is to talk to residents, staff and other visitors.  Be sure to ask residents about their life in the facility, and ask nurses about the types of group activities that are offered. Always remember: Nothing substitutes for a personal visit to the facility.

Here are some suggestions to help you evaluate facilities under consideration:

Staff

• Is there adequate staff?
• Is the staff courteous to residents or do they talk about residents as if they were not present or as if they were children?
• Is privacy respected?
• Is the administrator friendly and receptive to questions?

Residents

• Are the residents well-groomed?
• Do the residents appear alert and content or are they lethargic and listless?
• How many residents share a room?
• Are residents allowed and encouraged to personalize their room with their own belongings?

Facility

• Are bathrooms well located and clean?
• Is the kitchen clean and well-organized?
• Is the facility maintained at a comfortable temperature?
• Does the food appear and smell appetizing? Is it nutritious? Are fresh foods used, or is it mostly canned or frozen?
• Do the activities cover a broad range of interests?
• What is done for holidays and birthdays?
• How long has the facility been operating under the present management?  Are there any plans to change in the near future?

If you have other questions about Pennsylvania nursing homes, contact Munley, Munley, & Cartwright.  Our Pennsylvania injury lawyers have offices conveniently located in Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton, Harrisburg and Hamlin. Please call us at (800) 318-LAW1 or contact us online.  Our PA nursing home abuse attorneys are here to answer your questions and discuss how to protect your legal rights. Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.