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One of the hardest decisions you may have to make is whether or not to put a loved one into a nursing home. Nursing homes are often given a negative connotation as being the hold over stop before a person dies. However, it is important to remember that putting a loved one into a nursing home is a way to ensure that they are getting the quality care they need and deserve. The aging process is compromised by severe illnesses and medical conditions. When the time comes to decide if your loved one should be put into a nursing home, it is important to research and thoroughly investigate the facility you choose. The first step in finding the right Houston nursing home for your loved one is deciding what type of facility will benefit them the most. Do they need a long term care facility, or minimal assistance in an assisted living facility? You will need to choose a Houston nursing home that meets your financial and medical coverage. Don’t sacrifice quality of care. Most Houston nursing homes are willing to work with individual families to ensure the best care with affordable payment. Also, try to choose a facility close to family members so that visiting your loved one doesn’t become an inconvenience. Before deciding on a Houston nursing home, consult with your loved one’s doctor. Doctors that specialize in geriatrics care maybe affiliated with a nursing home facility and could make your search go smoother. Many Houston nursing homes may have waiting lists, in which case, you will need to find alternative means of care until a room becomes available. You should physically visit all of the nursing homes you are considering. Thoroughly look around the facility and take notes on what you do and don’t like. Go out of your way to meet with the facility administrator, social worker, director of nursing, dietician, restorative/occupational therapist and recreational advisor. A good facility will be adequately staffed with nurses. Many Houston nursing homes are moving toward a restraint-free atmosphere, which means that they use other methods to deal with residents that may be combative or at risk for falling. Any nursing home that uses restraints should also have a restraint protocol implemented. This means they must release restraint at certain intervals. While you are looking around, take note of how many residents are restrained and how often they were checked while you were there. You don’t want to choose a facility that overly uses restraints because they can be abused and cause neglect to the residents. Ask about the facility’s monthly, bi-monthly or tri-monthly care plan meetings, which are set up to discuss a resident’s total care. A member from all departments of the facility is present, including a family member. There will be a discussion about the overall health and wellness of the resident, what improvements can be made and what the long term prognosis is. A quality facility will notify and include and family member for these meetings. At some point, you will need to inquire about end of life decisions. Some Houston nursing homes require that residents have a signed DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) in their charts, and they are a specific end of life care facility, meaning they will not code a resident. You should inquire into the following types of important information: - When was the facility’s most recent health inspection?
- What kinds of activities are the residents encouraged to participate in?
- Are the rooms tidy and clean? Will your loved one feel comfortable in these rooms?
- Will your loved one have access to spiritual worship and religious accommodations?
- What types of foods are served? Will your loved one be following a strict diet?
- Is the nursing home affiliated with a hospital that accepts the type of medical coverage you have?
- Is there reliable security system in place?
- Do the staff members interact well with the residents?
- Have there been any complaints made to the state health department about this nursing home facility?
After visiting each Houston nursing home under consideration, take the time to think about each one. Weigh the pros and cons, and then narrow down your choice to the one facility you and your loved one will feel comfortable with.
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