My Best Tip for Selecting a Facility for a Loved One

 Proverbs 4:1 You children, hear the instruction of a father & [make an effort] to know understanding. Proverbs 4:1

I haven't posted much since my dad's passing. With sharing some information recently with someone, I would like to share my best tip about selecting a facility for a parent or loved one. I hope this is helpful! Debbie

When I narrowed down the possibilities, I made an unplanned visit to each of those facilities and just walked in and went through the halls. When a tour is scheduled, it's too easy to have things deliberately structured to appear that everything is ideal.

One place that was very fancy, was one where I saw no staff interacting with the patients. Plus there was a lady in the hall begging for someone to take her out of there.

There was a different facility that I wasn't able to get in without a staff escort, but found that at 6:00 p.m., I heard no one talking, watching T.V. or any other signs of activity, as I was touring through the halls where their rooms were. I figured they were all over medicated, for it to be an almost uniform level of silence and lack of activity. Although I may be mistaken, this was my impression. 

Another place wasn't as fancy, but I saw staff actively engaged, talking & joking around with the patients. That was the one we selected!

A Difficult Decision to Ponder

A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:1

I rarely post since my dad's passing, but recently I shared some info with someone. I thought it might be beneficial for others, so I thought to post it for you. Debbie

It's a difficult decision deciding whether a parent or loved one needs to be in a facility. In my situation, the doctors made the decision, because my dad kept letting go of his walker and falling and breaking bones. We were there, but he didn't do it while we were in the same room with him when it happened. Also, he kept getting aspiration pneumonia, related to his Re-flux Disease. The aspiration pneumonia continued to be a problem for him even after he went to stay in the Veterans Home.  They propped the head of his hospital bed up 45 degrees, as is suggested, but Dad would slide down in his bed and continued to get pneumonia periodically.

If your family member was in the military, he can go to a Veterans Home, although he may not have retired from the military. Some are better than others, and the one Dad was at was outstanding! He enjoyed the camaraderie with the other veterans. There's a way online to check out the ratings of different facilities.  I just got on the internet to see what I could find. These are the three government sponsored ones that I think are trustworthy. There's lots of other sites that don't seem unbiased, and appear to have a vested interest in promoting particular facilities, although they say they don't. I hope this helps!

Medicare Compare  This seems to have two ratings for each facility: an overall rating and a patient survey rating.

Medicare. gov-Finding Nursing Home  The facilities they list have to meet their rigorous standards. 

U.S. Health & Human Services: This has a guide to help in choosing a nursing home, etc.