Selecting a nursing home for an aging loved one can feel overwhelming. You want to make sure your family member receives the best care possible. It can be hard to know where to begin. This guide offers key considerations and practical tips to help you make a confident and informed decision for a parent or grandparent in California.
Key factors to consider during a visit
When you begin your search, look past the facility’s outside appearance. Pay close attention to the staff-to-resident ratio, which is a strong indicator of the quality of care. Observe how staff members interact with residents. Do they seem compassionate and engaged?
Consider the overall atmosphere, the cleanliness of the facility and the availability of social activities and resident-centered care. Visiting at different times of the day, including mealtimes, can provide a more realistic picture of daily life.
Consult vital ratings and resources
Fortunately, you do not have to start from scratch when looking for a nursing home. A crucial resource is Medicare’s Care Compare tool, which provides ratings for every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the United States. The tool uses a five-star rating system based on three key areas:
- Health inspections: This rating is based on state health department inspections over the last three years.
- Staffing: This measures the number of hours of care provided to each resident per day.
- Quality measures: This assesses a facility’s performance on key clinical indicators, including residents’ pain levels, falls resulting in significant injuries and the use of physical restraints.
While these ratings are a great starting point, they should be used with your own visits and observations.
Guarding against neglect and abuse
It is also vital to investigate a facility’s history of regulatory violations. The same government resources that provide ratings also list fines and citations for a history of neglect and abuse. You can also contact the California Department of Public Health to review inspection reports.
Finding a facility with a clean record is essential. If your family member has already been harmed due to neglect or abuse, it is advisable to consult with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney. A skilled lawyer understands how to hold negligent nursing homes accountable and help families get the justice they deserve.