Nursing Homes

Mom's medical condition has gradually gotten worse over the past couple of years.  The hours of care are getting longer and longer.  She's probably  going to start needing twenty-four hour care pretty soon.  Her ability to do things on her own has certainly declined.  I don't feel like I can take care of her anymore.  What should I do?  Can we stay here at home or do we find a place that can take care of her?

Home care can be an option, but your mother's  medical condition should  be considered.  A nursing home is another option.  Nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities are not like they used to be.  The quality and education of the staff has certainly increased to become more specialized.  This facility houses patients short-term or long-term.  Nursing homes are generally for  seniors who have a complicated medical history,  need extensive assistance with daily living skills such as bathing, toileting, and grooming, or need rehabilitation for any length of time.

Nursing homes have a licensed nurse on staff twenty-four hours a day and have specialized care for such needs as dementia, medications, wound care, hospice, and IV's.  So, these facilities are well equipped and trained to work with seniors who need minimal care to extensive care around the clock.  Along with fulfilling medical needs, social needs are considered.  Most nursing homes have a daily activity schedule and also scheduled outings to various places.  When looking at a nursing home, consider in your search how happy the residents look and if they seem happy where they are.

Happy residents of a skilled care facility are usually the result of a happy staff.  The staff should be smiling and have an understanding attitude when working with the residents.  One way to really tell if a facility has caring staff and a happy, working attitude is if they greet and welcome you into their home when you come to them for a tour of the place.  Nurses, aides, and caregivers should all be working diligently to care for the elderly.  Do the residents look clean?  Smell clean?  This is another way to tell if a facility has a caring staff.  How about the dining room?  Does the food look appetizing?  Is there a variety of foods to choose from?  Are snacks available for residents?  These are just a few more questions you might think about when looking for a nursing home for your loved one.

Really, when it comes down to it, finding a place to take care of your mom is going to be a tough decision.  Not just any place will do. Make a list of nursing homes in the area you are looking in, narrow down choices to which ones accept insurance, medicare or medicaid, write down a list of questions, and start touring some facilities.  You and your mom should feel safe and comfortable wherever you choose to stay.  Happy and cared for elderly should be what all nursing homes attain for.  So happy hunting!