How Spot Good Nursing Homes

By Tracie Knight


A nursing home is a facility for people with illness or disability, particularly for older patients. Nursing homes have skilled nurses and competent care givers who will be able to take care of our elderly better than we will be able to. We may feel guilty about leaving our loved ones under the care of strangers, but sometimes putting patients into these facilities will be beneficial to both the family and the patient.

Before even considering the services of a nursing home, you need to talk about it with your family first. You must have adequate and valid reasons to place a loved one under assisted living. Always remember that your patient is your responsibility and should not be dumped upon other [people just be cause you non longer want to care for them. If, however, the patient has been suffering from chronic illnesses then you may want to consider a home.

If your patient has been diagnosed with either psychosis or other mental illnesses, there are special wards for them in facilities. Even patients with severe memory problems such as Alzheimer can be given the best assistance through day to day activities here. Your patient will be cared for by competent staff who know how to handle these cases well.

Financial reasons also play a role. If the patient needs round the clock medical care, then a home will do quite nicely. You will be assured that your loved one will be well cared for in exchange for a smaller fee than if he were to stay in a hospital for extended periods.

Let us say that you have already reached the decision of placing your loved one under facility care. What you have to do now is to find the best facility that works for you. With the growing number of nursing homes in the country it takes real effort to find out which ones can really look after for lots of patients.

Look for a home in the most convenient location. Choose one nearby so that family members can visit the patient as often as they like and without difficulty. Nursing homes that are located near a hospital is good, too, especially if your patient needs regular hospital check ups.

Visit the building to see its condition. A good home should not reek of urine nor smell too much of air fresheners. It should have a homey feeling so that the elderly will be able to adjust easily. The best time to visit is during mealtimes, where you will see firsthand what they usually serve their wards, and during the weekend when there are no managers present. This way you will get the real picture, not the advertised one.

Instead of believing the word that the marketing team of the facility, talk with the caregivers and other members of the staff. By having comfortable chats with them they will give you insights on how the whole place is run. Also take the time to interview some patients and ask them how living in the particular facility has suited them.

It is never easy to part with family. Though convalescent homes present a negative idea to people, sometimes there is no other option. The best you can do is to find the perfect facility to ensure that your loved one gets the best care possible.




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