Choosing a Nursing Home contd.

When your research is complete, a few facilities will probably emerge as more favorable than the others. If not, take a closer look and rank them on a variety of factors so you know which nursing homes seem the most promising with the highest quality care. The top ranked nursing homes are the ones you should now visit.

So just how many nursing homes should you visit? Ideally you should see as many as possible. Some people suggest visiting your top two, but that really doesn’t give you a firm basis for comparison. It’s better to visit five or so. After all, what looks good on paper may not be as appealing once you visit it in person.

If possible, you’ll also want to take your loved one with you so that they can be involved in this step of the decision-making possible. After all, they'll be the one who will be living there, so it only makes sense that they should be able to help choose.

You’ll also want to take other trusted friends or family members with you. When you are doing this sort of research and visiting several nursing homes, it’s easy to start overlooking things. Your companion may spot something that you would have otherwise missed – something important enough to be a deal-breaker.

Also, be sure to bring a notebook so that you can take notes about each of the facilities while it’s still fresh in your mind. In fact, write down your notes during your visit, and in your car before you leave. Don’t leave and tell yourself that you’ll write down notes later. It’s too easy to forget the details – and even more important, it’s too easy to forget the feelings, gut instincts and first impressions your received. A really good alternative is to take a small digital dictaphone, that way you can just speak into it as you look around the nursing home. 

It's also a good idea to visit during at least one meal time and preferably two, say lunch and dinner. After all, you will want to be reassured that the elderly residents are given enough good, wholesome, nutritious food of the right type that has been geared towards the elderly persons dietary needs. Don't forget to assess the serving staff to see how they interact with the residents. Ask the residents themselves what they think about the food and staff. Ask to have a meal. All of these things that you notice during your visit will help you determine whether this home is ideal or not for your loved one.

• Nursing Home Questions
  
  Here are some questions to think about when choosing a nursing home:
• Nursing Home Inspection
  
  What to look for on a nursing home inspection

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