Five things to consider when planning to place your loved one in a Nursing Home

The time has come when you feel that you can’t provide your parent the best care at home. You have dreaded this choice, but think that it’s best for all parties involved. There are things that you should consider when making this decision. In the brief moment that I considered placing my mom in a Nursing home as a last resort, I've heard the horror stories about mistreated patients but, there are good Nursing homes you have to do your research. I did some research myself even though we decided to keep mom at home.

First things first, get yourself a notepad because you need to do your research. Start by writing down what type of care that your loved one needs? Talk to their current physician if they have one about what kind of care they require. If they didn’t have a current physician take them to a medical professional for a checkup and also use your feedback as a caregiver, you have the most input to add because you are with your parent more than the doctor, so the information you provide is valuable. Not all nursing homes have the same skills for each need.

Money, Yes you knew that this was coming. Find out what you can afford. Check into your loved one's insurance. Medicare might cover a few weeks or months of short-term care, but long-term care may not. Medicaid and private insurance may pay some of the costs, but most of the financial burden usually ends up the families responsibility. If you are not sure what you can afford, talk to a financial advisor.

Choose a few Nursing Homes to Visit. When I did my search around the area where my mom and her husband lived, it was far for me, but I knew that he wanted to be close to her if we decided to do this. I also checked that it met my specific requirements of having a memory care section. Read both the inspection reports and reviews for every facility you are considering. If your loved one can’t make their own decisions, discuss the nursing home options with the rest of the family and listen to everyone’s opinion.

Visit the Nursing Homes you selected. Talk to the administrators, the staff, and make sure you say hello to the residents. You may not want to but if there are family members there I would ask them for their thoughts on the facility, and if their parent seems happy and safe. Ask to see the private sections as well as the public ones. Arrive with questions to ask, and make sure that you get all your questions answered while your there.

The final thing to consider is to sit down with your family review the notes you have gathered about each nursing home. Include inspection reports, and consider doing a litigation search as well. Once you have all the answers, you can make an informed decision. This list is not all-inclusive. Putting your loved one in a Nursing Home is very stressful, and it’s easy for you to feel guilty about it. Caregiving is hard, and it’s not for everyone. Just know that you have it in your heart to see that you can’t take on that task and you want to leave it to the medical professionals. So take plenty of time researching facilities to make the best decision for your loved one. Hopefully, this will leave you with a peace of mind.