Industry Tips
Nursing Homes
To locate the right nursing home, begin by talking with the prospective resident's personal physician to determine the type of care facility needed. To obtain the names of quality homes get references from your or the patient's physician, clergy, medical society, health department, or agency on aging, local nursing home association, senior citizens and social work groups, Social Security office and the yellow pages. As you tour each nursing home, consider the following:
* General Location * Cleanliness
* Accident Prevention * Accessibility
* Food * Fire safety
* Bedrooms * Personal Items
* Roommates * Attitudes and atmosphere
Ask the administrator for a written statement about the basic monthly charge and what that covers. If you have decided on a home and there is a room available, you will be asked to complete the admissions paperwork, including an admissions agreement or service contract. As with any contract, read everything carefully before signing. If anything is unclear, ask questions and do not sign until it all makes sense. If you would feel more secure with legal advice, do not hesitate to take the papers to your lawyer or the Legal Aid Society.
Beware of institutions that require the payment of a large deposit. This may, in effect, lock-in someone who depletes his or her life savings to make such a payment. If a deposit is mandatory, explore the possibilities of arranging for monthly installments into a deposit fund. If Medicaid pays the bill, it is illegal for the nursing home to require admissions deposits, or require relatives and friends to pay the bill. Some non-profit facilities require that a resident sign over all assets to the facility to become the home's property after death.
Though many long-term care facilities are responsive to complaints, problems do occur. If a problem occurs, go through the established process at the home for solving problems. If the problem is still unresolved, consider contacting the State Medicaid Agency, State health department, or local office on aging.
An excellent resource is Pro Seniors at 513-345-4160 or www.proseniors.org. Among other programs, Pro Seniors offers a federally mandated Ombudsmen program to act on behalf of the almost 60% of nursing home residents who receive no visitors.
