Elder Care Information

Assisted Living: Tips on How to Choose a Facility


It is easy to be fooled by fancy drapery or expensive furniture that may decorate a care facility. Even though a facility looks high class doesn't always mean the care provided is first class. The following are just a few simple guidelines to follow when selecting either a nursing home or an assisted living facility:

1. Talk with people in the community who are familiar with the facility you are looking at. Get their opinions and feedback.

2. In order to get the feel of the residents and their activity level, tour the facility during meals times, or right before or after a meal. Activity level is usually higher during these times. This will give you a general idea of the atmosphere and the quality of food being served. Great meals are one of the lasting enjoyments our seniors have.

3. Pay attention to the residents in the facility. Do they appear to be happy? Unhappy residents could indicate their needs are not being met properly. Do the caregivers know the residents by name? Is there adequate interaction between caregiver and resident?

4. If you have concerns about the facility, don't be afraid to ask the staff questions and voice any concerns you may have. Did you receive adequate answers? Was the staff professional? Ask the administrator about the staff turnover rate. If it's high, ask for the reasons why.

5. Examine all license and state or county inspection results for the facility. Each facility is required to display these items. A facility with little or no deficiencies is most likely a facility that wants to get the job done right the first time.

6. Research the facility using resources on the internet such as the Nursing Home Compare at www.medicare.gov or view license and enforcement action information with the appropriate state agency.

7. Trust your instinct. If you feel uncomfortable about a facility, there is a reason why. If a second unscheduled visit yields the same uneasy feeling, go with your gut feeling.

Overall, being familiar with a few simple guidelines will help make your selection process much easier. Selecting a care facility for a loved one is a very important decision. The care your loved one receives will ultimately affect their quality of life. In the end, if you cannot see yourself living in a certain facility you're visiting, then chances are you shouldn't place your loved one there either.

You have permission to use this article as long as the author's full bio is present as well as any hyperlinks to author's website.

Torey Farnsworth has over 12 years of experience working with seniors. Ms. Farnsworth's vast expertise encompasses a wide variety of senior issues ranging from adult care to elder law. Most recently, Torey served as Elder Law Director and Paralegal for a Phoenix based law firm where she provided assistance in a variety of areas including long term care planning, estate planning, ALTCS eligibility and Medicaid planning. Ms. Farnsworth is also a certified caregiver with the State of Arizona as well as a Certified Senior Advisor. Ms. Farnsworth has spent her career in senior care as her family owns and operates assisted living homes.

Ms. Farnsworth owns and operates a senior care placement business in Arizona called Horizon Senior Care Referral. Her placement services are free to seniors and their families. For information on placement services in Arizona, visit http://adultcarecentral.com/


MORE RESOURCES:

Holidays with Aging Parents: Elder Care Expert Has the ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 17 hours ago
Elder care expert Esther Koch provides insight into how caregivers of aging parents can bring the joy of the holiday season to the elder care experience. ...


One-stop website for all elder care needs
Financial Post, Canada - 23 hours ago
"It's a Craigslist for eldercare and providers, with a targeted focus," he said. "At some point I'll sell some banner ads and if people want some kind of ...


Trial begins for man charged in slaying of two elder care home ...
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Nov 27, 2008
By Malaika Fraley MARTINEZ — Alfredo Pangilinan lived as a transient, often stopping by a small Pittsburg convalescent home to ask for food or money from a ...


Get help with eldercare planning
Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - Nov 28, 2008
SUMMIT —SAGE’s Eldercare Planning and Guidance program provides in-home support for older adults and their caregivers through education and consultation. ...


Blessing and burden: Study on Latinos sheds light on eldercare for all
Houston Chronicle, United States - Nov 27, 2008
New research on Latino caregivers, however, highlights ways to make eldercare easier. Latinos spend more time caring for elderly parents than non-Latinos, ...


Sea change in elder care
Buffalo News,  United States - Nov 21, 2008
You will never find in the same sentence the words imagination and long-term care,” said Dr. Bill Thomas, a leading authority on elder care. ...


Words won't solve crisis in elder care
Toronto Star,  Canada - Nov 27, 2008
Just what ordinary citizens want to hear from the minister of health and long-term care – a self congratulatory letter to the editor. ...


Author's approach to elder care nonmedical, holistic
Ventura County Star, CA - Nov 24, 2008
Englander offers a nonmedical, holistic approach to elder care. For 28 years, she has taught elders and nursing staffs, serving as a consultant, elder care ...


News briefs
Old Colony Memorial and Plymouth Bulletin, MA - 1 hour ago
Other professionals who specialize in providing services to the senior community will also speak, including: Elder care attorney Peter Muncey; social worker ...


PEOPLE IN BUSINESS: Valley Memorial Homes...Haake takes over
Grand Forks Herald, ND - Nov 28, 2008
She started working at Almonte in 1963; she also worked at Tufte Manor and now is at Valley Eldercare Center. n 20 years: Darci Bohn, Shannon Holte, ...
HRRV hires human resources director In-Forum
all 2 news articles

Elder-Care - Google News

home | site map
© 2006